Call to combat illegal structures in Murree

Public officials trade blames in wake of crackdown against illegal constructions

MURREE:

Amid the ongoing operation against illegal constructions in the scenic hill resort of Murree and an ensuing blame game within public departments, Murree Municipal Employees Union President Naveed Ahmed Abbasi has emphasised the need to combat illegal constructions by establishing a Building Control Authority and implementing building bylaws spanning at least three decades.

Abbasi pointed out that while municipal employees are being ‘unfairly’ blamed for these constructions, the actual responsibility lies with the relevant officers. He advocated for holding accountable those officials who oversaw these illegal constructions and suggested enforcing penalties for violations of building bylaws.

Naveed Abbasi highlighted the misallocation of responsibilities within the municipal corporation, noting that employees from various branches were tasked with building inspections instead of their designated roles. He urged for their reassignment and stressed the scarcity of qualified building inspectors, with only one out of eight meeting the necessary qualifications.

To address these issues, he proposed the formation of a high-level inquiry commission to investigate and take action against implicated officers. Until the inquiry concludes, he recommended placing all officers stationed in Murree on the Exit Control List (ECL). Furthermore, he suggested that significant revenue could be generated for the institution by transferring government-owned land under the Murree Municipal Corporation's jurisdiction.

In a bid to rectify the situation, the union leader called upon the owners of 176 buildings to submit affidavits detailing payments made to officials, promising support for the return of such funds. Building inspectors were urged to scrutinise these financial transactions. He also expressed concern for construction workers, many of whom are non-locals, and advocated for measures to safeguard their investments.

The legal ramifications of illegal constructions in Murree were underscored by recent developments. On Tuesday, arrest warrants were issued for officials from the Murree district administration and Municipal Corporation in a contempt of court case related to these constructions, resulting in a temporary halt to ongoing operations against illegal structures. Subsequently, the local court mandated a Rs1 million bond from the Murree administration in the contempt case, with officials appearing in court and securing bail against this bond.

The developments have once again spotlighted the multifaceted challenges posed by illegal constructions in Murree.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2024.