Affectees await compensation

IHC reserves verdict in case about acquisition by CDA, FGEHA

ISLAMABAD: As many as 1,000 people, whose lands had been acquired to build urban sectors in the federal capital, are still awaiting compensation from the civic agency and a foundation which builds housing schemes for government employees.

This was disclosed as a single-member bench of the Islamabad High Court, comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard a case on compensation for affectees.

During Wednesday’s hearing, when IHC Chief Justice Minallah learnt about the people whose lands were taken but were not provided alternate land, remarked that even the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) has not made us fearful of God.

The court expressed its displeasure with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) over its failure to compensate affectees.

CDA Member Estate Irfan Elahi told the court that so far, they have allotted around 557 plots. CJ Minallah said that the authority acquired the land in 1985 while balloting for the award of compensatory plots was conducted in 2017, remarking that the authority had made the awards a source of corruption.

Upon inquiry of court, the member disclosed that 155 plots were awarded per the ballot.

CJ Minallah continued that the civic agency has destroyed the federal capital’s master plan.

“There are still some 87,000 pending cases,” CJ Minallah remarked, chiding the civic agency for not taking timely action.

”Islamabad has become a classic example of elite culture,” he remarked while holding the CDA responsible for the absence of governance in the federal capital.

At this, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on CDA Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan maintained, “What the court said is true, but for the first time we are trying to bring improvement”.

To this, CJ Minallah remarked that the court wants to end this culture.

“Judges, bureaucrats and journalists, all were given plots in Islamabad except for those from whom the land was acquired to build sectors,” he noted.

CDA Member Estate explained that as per policy, eight per cent of affectees are compensated annually and the affectees are allocated plots in certain sectors.

On assessing the market value of the land, Elahi said that it was determined per its market value when it was acquired.

He asserted that 74,575 affectees have been compensated so far and that they are preparing a budget to pay affectees through a separate account.

“500 affectees belong to different villages upon which different sectors have been constructed,” he added.

At this, Awan said they have prepared a list of some 491 plots in Sector E-12 which will be allotted to affectees. Moreover, some 786 plots are being developed in Sector I-12 while NADRA is carrying out the balloting process.

Moreover, during the hearing, it emerged that the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) had allotted plots in the federal capital despite a ban imposed by the court.

IHC chief justice had asked Elahi whether the CDA allotted a plot to a government official. At this, Elahi said it was the FGEHF who did it.

CJ Minallah summoned the foundation’s counsel and asked whether the law does not apply to the foundation.

The FGEHF lawyer contended that the court had withdrawn the order. CJ Minallah, however, asked him to read aloud the order and point out where it had been withdrawn.

Nowhere in it is it written that we have withdrawn the (ban on allotment of plots) order, the chief justice remarked.

After hearing arguments from all sides, CJ Minallah reserved the verdict and adjourned the hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2020.