Control conundrum: Shifting the burden of blame

Stained by blood, decade-long squabble between ICT and CDA over control of Sabzi Mandi continues.

ISLAMABAD:

In the aftermath of the Sabzi Mandi blast, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration has received directives from Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to take over control of I-11 Fruit and Vegetable Market from the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

This was stated during a meeting chaired by Khan to discuss Wednesday’s Sabzi Mandi blast.

Interestingly, the Interior Ministry is largely responsible for the delay.

There is a need to amend the ICT Agricultural Produce and Markets Ordinance (APMO). Once amended and approved, it would legally bind the ICT Administration to take over management of the market.

“Until the requisite approval from the Interior Ministry, the CDA is the legal custodian of this market, not the ICT Administration,” said Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Sherdil.

On the other hand, a senior CDA officer claimed otherwise, saying that the CDA was responsible for the market’s management until a recent Islamabad High Court verdict mandated the ICT administration with manage the affairs of Sabzi Mandi.

In this manner, the blast not only exposed the fragile security situation in Islamabad, but also the decade-long debate over the market between the capital’s managers.

Buck-passing such as this has contributed to the sorry state of affairs at the market.

In 2006, when the CDA was allocated control by a court, the market was managed as an afterthought. Then, on October 28, 2013, while hearing a case on extortionists operating in the market, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the ICT administration to take control.

In accordance with the decision, on September 14, 2013, the ICT Administration wrote to the Interior Ministry to notify new rules so that it could legally take control.

When the Interior Ministry failed to respond positively, officials of the ICT administration were forced to send a reminder on September 17. Unfortunately, the ordinance has not been amended by the Interior Minister to this day.

Sherdil claims that the ICT administration had forwarded that request to the Interior Ministry before he joined the administration, adding that it has also since been forwarded to the Law Ministry for a legal opinion. Currently, sanitation and collections of fee from traders is being managed by the CDA, added Sherdil.

Islamabad Chief Commissioner Jawad Paul agreed with his subordinate, explaining that to assume control of the market’s management, the administration needs the APMO to be amended. “Departments require orders in black and white to function.”

As this debate continues, it is worth remembering that the post of Sabzi Mandi administrator has been lying vacant for the past several years.

Incidentally, questions over custodianship of the high-risk location were initially raised in 2001, when a bomb placed in a pushcart exploded there.

Almost 13 years later, the buck has still not stopped anywhere.

Timeline of bomb blasts in Islamabad since 2007

Feb 6, 2007

Suicide blast in Islamabad Airport’s car parking; bomber killed, three people injured

Jun 26, 2007

Suicide bomber explodes outside Marriott Hotel; bomber and a security guard killed

Jul 17, 2007

Suicide bomb blast at a lawyers’ rally in Sector F-8 where former CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry during the lawyers’ movement; at least 15 killed, more than 40 injured

Jul 28, 2007

Suicide bomb attack a restaurant in Aabpara; at least 15 killed, 53 injured

Jun 02, 2008

Suicide car bombing at Danish Embassy in F-6; at least six killed

Jul 06, 2008

Suicide attack at Melody Market; at least 15 policemen killed

Sept 20, 2008

Explosive-laden vehicle blew up outside Marriott Hotel; around 800kg of RDX and TNT used; at least 54 killed, over 250 injured

Oct 09, 2008

Explosive-laden vehicle blew up in Police Lines; nine injured

Mar 23, 2009

Suicide blast at Special Branch office in Sitara Market; one policeman killed, one injured

Apr 04, 2009

Suicide attack on Frontier Constabulary camp on Margalla Road; at least eight killed

Jun 06, 2009

Suicide attack at Rescue 15 office in G-8; two killed, four injured

Oct 20, 2009

Twin blasts at the IIUI campus; at least six killed, 29 injured

Jun 13, 2011

Suicide bomb blast outside Silk Bank in sector I-8; one killed, four injured

Mar 03, 2014

Two blasts and firing at the Islamabad district courts in F-8; at least 13 killed and around two dozen injured

Apr 09, 2014

Remote control bomb blast at Sabzi Mandi kills at least 24, injures over 110

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2014.