Illegal cattle stall at stone’s throw from CDA office

Owner says he has permission from the civic agency; spokesperson denies existence of the stall.

ISLAMABAD:

Despite the Capital Development Authority (CDA) claims of taking stern action against illegal cattle markets in the city, one cattle stall has been active just a few yards away from the CDA’s office for at least a week.

Every year, the civic agency sets up a cattle market for Eidul Azha in Sector I-11/2 near Railway Carriage Factory, where animals are brought from different areas of the country in order to facilitate the residents of Islamabad.

However, the unauthorised cattle stall established by butchers near the CDA office in Sector G-6/2’s Café Iram Market, puts into question the civic agency’s desire or ability to enforce its rules.

The makeshift stall is on a footpath in the market, opposite a residential area, where people are also being unnecessarily inconvenienced.

Locals expressed serious concern as these animals often host parasites like ticks, which can carry Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, or Congo fever, virus.

“I don’t understand why CDA has allowed them to set up stalls here. Every year a week before Eid, we face this problem,” said a man who lives near the market.

Iqbal Ahmed, a butcher based in the market, establishes the stall every year, despite the reservations of locals. When asked how he had managed to set up his stall despite the ban, Iqbal replied he said that he had been granted permission by the CDA.

“I set up this stall with their approval every year and have been doing so for many years,” he said.

CDA Spokesperson Ramzan Sajid said he was unaware of the stall’s existence.

“Right now there is no as such illegal stall in my knowledge, however we promise to remove this stall through the Directorate of Enforcement.”

Sajid said that the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration was partially responsible for curbing such practices, that it is ICT’s responsibility to impose Section-144 to curb illegal stalls and markets.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2011.