Ticking clock: After govt’s last hurrah, PM’s brother bows before law

Farm owned by outgoing PM’s brother built on almost twice the permissible limit.

ISLAMABAD:

Not too long ago, Imran Ashraf had tremendous clout with the Capital Development Authority (CDA). Today though, with his better-known brother Raja Pervaiz having vacated the Prime Minister’s House, he, like other ordinary citizens, had to request the civic agency to keep from bulldozing his house.

Imran Ashraf has sought more time from city managers to remove unauthorised construction on an area of 7,500 square feet at a farmhouse he owns at Orchard Scheme on Murree Road.

“At first, he formally wrote to the authority requesting them not to carrying out any operation for removing illegal structures at his farmhouse, saying he will do so himself within three days,” said a top official of the authority who asked not to be named.

The CDA official said the three days had since lapsed, but nothing happened on the ground. However, another CDA official claimed that Ashraf had verbally requested seeking more time.

“Hopefully, it will be done within the upcoming week, otherwise the authority’s bulldozers will be brought into action,” the official said confidently.



Interestingly, farmhouse No 34, which has construction on an area of 20,000 square feet against the permissible limit of 12,500 square feet, is being used as a party office.

At the Orchard Scheme there are a total of 160 agricultural farm plots. Out of 160 plots, 117 are allotted to public, while 43 are yet to be allotted.

The CDA recently completed a survey of all 117 plots in Orchard Scheme and found 68 of the allotted plots were fully developed, while 18 agro farms are completely undeveloped, besides 31 partially developed farms.

The survey does not include the number of violations in terms of excess covered area beyond the permissible limits at farmhouse plots. Under the terms and conditions for Orchard Scheme, the owner is required to complete 50 per cent of plantation with two months and the entire project within two years of taking possession. The ratio of plantation on a farm is supposed to be at least 70 to 80 trees per acre.

Sources privy to the developments also informed The Express Tribune Planning Member Mustafain Kazmi recently issued a notice to Building Control Section (BCS) Deputy Director General (DDG) Ghulam Murtaza Malik for the slow pace of action against farmhouse owners.

“In his notice, Mr Kazmi expressed his dissatisfaction over the performance of the BCS section for not expediting action against farmhouse owners who have constructed structures beyond the permissible limits,” the official said, adding that Malik had been asked to accelerate action against violators in line with Supreme Court directions.

Kazmi confirmed to The Express Tribune that he had issued the notice, but said it was a matter of routine. “Such reminders and notices are issued to reenergise the officers,” he said. However, DDG Malik was quick to explain all that has been achieved by his department.

“I used to lead CDA teams to carry out demolition exercises. During the past two months, we razed structures at 11 farmhouses for violations of CDA rules. Besides these 11 farmhouses, the owners of two agro farms have assured that they will demolish excess construction themselves,” Malik said. He also took credit for collecting over Rs10 million in fines from the owners of farmhouses violating covered area limits.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2013.