Removing encroachment: CDA told to devise comprehensive plan

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to devise a comprehensive plan to remove encroachments from the federal capital and to stop the illegal practice in future.

The order was issued by Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the IHC while hearing a case relating to encroachment in the city.

During the hearing, Justice Siddiqui remarked that any government officer, hampering the campaign against encroachment, would be sent to jail.

CDA officials submitted a plan for a phase-wise operation against encroachments. The report indicated that the department would initiate an anti-encroachment operation from Sector F-6.

Moreover, it was suggested that the CDA had allowed only two bus terminals to operate in the Faizabad area.

Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz and Chief Commissioner Aftab Akbar Durrani appeared before the court.

Justice Siddiqui observed that property worth billions of rupees was illegally occupied in the city and that some elements of CDA were creating hurdles in the implementation of the court’s orders.  He directed CDA to prepare a comprehensive plan to remove encroachments and stop this practice in future. The bench adjourned the hearing of the case till May 10.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2018.