Non-conforming use: CDA asked to provide details of ‘policy’

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court (SC) sought details of a new policy that the capital’s civic agency might have formulated to vacate residential buildings being used for commercial purposes from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chief Maroof Afzal.

When a three-member SC bench headed by Justice Jawwad Khawaja took up the case on Wednesday, the CDA counsel informed the court that the authority’s chairman was in Saudi Arabia to perform umrah.

When the court inquired whether a new policy has been devised, the counsel claimed a new policy has been worked out and will be presented in the CDA Board meeting after the chairman returns.

He said the new policy would be presented in the court soon after it was approved by the board and assured the court that the CDA chairman would furnish the new policy in court in person.

The court adjourned the hearing till the last week of July. The CDA has in the past taken action against non-conforming use of residential buildings and had sealed premises in the federal capital, which were being used for commercial purposes

In January this year, the Islamabad High Court gave three months to city managers to halt commercial activities and misuse of residential buildings in the federal capital.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2015.