IHC orders removal of illegal kiosk

Islamabad High Court (IHC), on Wednesday, directed Capital Development Authority (CDA) to demolish an illegal kiosk, owned by an influential personality, from Shalimar Park in the sector F-7/3.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui while hearing the case regarding encroachment in public parks, ordered the Directorate of Municipal Administration of CDA to demolish an illegal kiosk from Shalimar Park and submit a report in two days.
Earlier on October 17, the same bench had directed CDA to submit a complete report on October 31 regarding illegal kiosks placed in different public parks. The petition had been filed by Vice Admiral (r) Muhammad Ahmed Tasnim, a resident of sector F-7/3, through his counsel Advocate Jehangir Khan, challenging the illegal kiosk placed in the public park.
During the course of the hearing, Advocate Nazir Jawad, counsel of CDA, submitted his report and claimed that the enforcement directorate had sent a notice to the owner of the kiosk, placed in Shalimar Park, on October 28. However the owner had refused to obey the court’s orders and misbehaved with CDA employees.
Meanwhile Advocate Jehangir alleged that the kiosk was owned by Khalid Rehman, the brother of Interior Minister Rehman Malik, and CDA’s enforcement directorate was reluctant to take action against him.
However the CDA counsel, while talking to media representatives, claimed that according to CDA’s records, no kiosk had been registered under the name of Khalid Malik. He said that the kiosk had been owned by Muhammad Zaheer.
Justice Siddiqui expressed concerned and asked whether the allotments had been made through proper advertisement. However the CDA counsel could not give a satisfactory response. The court directed CDA to submit a report in two days and adjourned the case till November 2.