The report identifies only the farms allotted to former parliamentarian Mian Aslam as ones that meet the CDA’s genuine criteria. PHOTO: FILE
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an interim report on the illegal use of agriculture farms prepared by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heading a three-judge bench, told the CDA to conduct a fresh survey and identify “genuine violations” in the use of these subsidised agrofarms.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, member of the bench, found it highly unlikely that only 19 out of 525 agrofarms were found to be in violation. He added all people not cultivating in their farms are violating the lease agreements. A large number of bureaucrats, lawyers, judges and generals have plots in the scheme.
The third judge, Justice Gulzar Ahmad, pointed out an apparent error in the report, where it had identified just 19 farms guilty of breaking lease agreement in one place and identified 24 other farms as having more covered area than allowed by the lease.
CDA Deputy Director General Ghulam Mustafa Malik said the report was temporary and the survey to identify violations is currently underway. He said the authority needs more time to complete the survey.
Chief Justice Chaudhry, unhappy with the delay, give CDA until the first week of February to complete the survey, when the next hearing will be held.
The report identifies only the farms allotted to former parliamentarian Mian Aslam as ones that meet the CDA’s genuine criteria. All other farms violate the lease agreements in some way, according to the report.
Earlier in November 2012, the authority had started an operation against violators by sealing four plots being used as wedding halls. Since then, the authority has sealed six more agrofarms.
The agricultural farms in Islamabad, or agrofarms, are bound by CDA regulations to grow fruits and vegetables on 80% of the land. But many of them have morphed into residential units and money-making machines for their owners.
Some of these farms are being used as marriage halls, restaurants and musical night venues, while others have been turned into bungalows and mansions. In both cases, the farm owners are in breach of CDA rules.
CDA bylaws state that farms cannot be used for any purpose other than poultry and vegetable farming and the covered area on the farms cannot be more than 20% of the land.
In case of a breach of these bylaws, the CDA can cancel the farm owners’ agreement and take possession of the building without any compensation liability.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2013.
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