Polyclinic expansion: Cabinet division told to resolve issue

Senators ask FIA to probe plots allotted to highrises.

ISLAMABAD:

A parliamentary panel on Thursday directed the Cabinet Division step in and resolve the issue of a land transfer for expansion of Polyclinic hospital by taking all stakeholders onboard.

The directives came from senators after the city managers refused to cave in to pressure from legislators on the issue. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials argue that under the CDA Ordinance 1960 a public park land cannot be used for any other purpose. The civic agency officials also quoted before the Senate committee a number of Supreme Court judgments prohibiting the CDA from using a park’s land for any other purpose.

The issue was discussed at the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat meeting at the parliament house. The meeting was presided over by Senator Kalsoom Perveen and attended by senators, officials of the CDA, Islamabad administration, FIA and Polyclinic’s executive director.

Cabinet Division Additional Secretary Arif Ahmad Khan assured the committee that all pending issues related to allotment of land apportioned from Argentina Park for expansion of the hospital would be resolved within two weeks.

State minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab said allocations had been made under this year’s Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the project, which shows the government was sincere to execute the project which is of public importance.

The government has allocated Rs55.3 million in the PSDP for 2014-15 for acquisition of land required to expand Polyclinic hospital, while another Rs200 million have been allocated for the construction of additional blocks.

CDA member planning and design Waseem Ahmad Khan informed the committee that park land could not be allocated until necessary amendment to its ordinance is made.

He said the civic agency’s legal wing had already raised objection over it describing it against the provisions of CDA ordinance.

On the occasion, Senator Saeeda Iqbal of PPP questioned if the Metro bus project can be implemented in violation of the CDA master plan and ordinance why not a public interest project.

Senator Kalsoom Perveen said all the necessary permissions had already been obtained and the CDA was trying to complicate the matter, citing Supreme Court’s verdicts about misuse of public park land.

She said expansion of hospital would not be a business venture but it’s meant for the pubic. “The ambassador of Argentina had also expressed no objection over the use of the park’s land, which was gifted by the Argentinean government,” Senator Perveen said. She said she would defend the case herself before any court of law.

Senator Hamayun Mandokhel and Senator Yousuf Badini said they would bear the cost of excavation on the site of the project, while Senator Hasil Bangash had already announced Rs100 million donation for this project.

Other issues

The committee also directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to initiate investigations into leasing of a cinema plot at Sector G-9 to a member of parliament at throwaway price.

FIA Director Inam Ghani was also directed to take over all record related to the plot allocated for the establishment of Centaurus and Grand Hayyat near Jinnah Convention Centre.

These issues were not discussed in detail as they were already under scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2014.