Afghan basti dilemma: NA panel asks CDA to allocate alternative plots

CDA to prepare summary and forward to premier for approval.

ISLAMABAD:

Reluctance on the part of the capital’s civic agency and police to evict encroachers from Afghan basti in the backdrop of immense political pressure and fear of armed resistance led to a parliamentary panel postponing the operation in Sector I-11 on Tuesday.

After lambasting officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Islamabad Capital Territory Administration and Islamabad police for “deliberately” delaying an operation to remove the Afghan basti, a sub-committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat asked chairman CDA to take steps to reallocate residential plots occupied by encroachers.

“CDA chairman and chief commissioner must tell the committee why they wasted four months, assuring us they would carry out an operation,” questioned the committee’s convener Hameedullah Afridi.

CDA Chairman Tahir Shahbaz and Islamabad Chief Commissioner Tariq Pirzada informed the committee that politicians including parliamentarians had visited the Afghan basti and extended their support to encroachers.

“PML-N MNA Tariq Chaudhry, a member of this committee, visited Afghan basti and said no authority could evict them,” stated Pirzada. Afridi called it a lame excuse and said all officers should admit their failure.

“The police need government support, like in an operation in 2005, in which encroachers were evicted from Afghan basti,” said Pirzada.

“The Islamabad police are of the view that the presence of criminals and armed men can lead to an untoward incident,” clarified Shahbaz. He added he had reservations over their stance as the police had suggested that the operation be conducted in phases when CDA was ready to see it through.

MNA Malik Nawab Waseem said, “Since CDA has failed to clear the area of encroachers, it should allot alternative residential plots to people in developed sectors.” The committee unanimously endorsed the suggestion. The authority will prepare a summary and after the CDA board’s approval, it will be forwarded to the premier, answered CDA chairman.

On February 7, CDA’s enforcement directorate went to the site but Islamabad police did not depute officials at the venue, resulting in a retreat to avoid confrontation.

A survey conducted by the CDA in collaboration with UNHCR stated that 864 families were living in Afghan basti. Out of 864 families, 47 are from Punjab, there are 114 registered Afghan families comprising 1,022 individuals, 27 non-registered Afghan families, 324 families from Mohmand and Bajaur agencies, while 352 families comprising 3,105 individuals are from K-P and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2013.