Gratification: CDA stopped from gifting plots to journos, baboos

ISLAMABAD:

A court on Monday restrained the Capital Development Authority (CDA) from “gifting plots” to its employees, journalists and bureaucrats in the city’s residential sectors. It also gave top officials three weeks to respond to the charges levelled against the civic agency.

Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued the order after Ghulam Mehboob Khokar filed a petition challenging CDA’s plan to allot 27 plots in developed sectors, namely D-12, and I-8.

The market value of a single plot ranges from Rs30 to 35 million.

Justice Khan directed the civic body to maintain the status quo till the case is decided. The court also issued notices to CDA Chairman Farkhand Iqbal, Director Planning Ghulam Sarwar Sandhu, Director Estate Faisal Nisar and Information Secretary Rashid Ahmed and sought their comments.

The petitioner contended there are media reports that CDA is planning to allot plots in developed sectors which is against the authority’s rules.

He argued that according to section 5 of the Islamabad Land Disposal Regulation, 2005, CDA employees have only five per cent quota and civil servants 10 per cent quota in undeveloped sectors.

He maintained that according to the rules, all residential plots in developed sectors can only be allotted through auction but authority is violating its own policy.

He informed the court that whenever similar public interest petitions were filed, the court issued stay orders against illegal allotments.

He requested the court to restrain the civic body, contending that land in the capital must be used for public interest.

He prayed the court to restrain the authority from allotting plots in developed sectors.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2012.