The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Tuesday sealed offices of several political parties situated in the residential areas of Islamabad.
On January 15, the CDA had given three days to PML-N, PTI, PPP, and other parties to shift their offices to commercial areas otherwise, “CDA shall seal these premises without further notice”.
The CDA’s enforcement team in compliance with Supreme Court’s orders started a crackdown against the offices of political parties on Tuesday and sealed PTI’s office situated in sector G-6/4, APML’s office in G-6/3, PML-Q’s office in F-8/3 and JI’s office in G-6/2 of the capital.
Sources said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was the only political party whose staffers resisted the move; hence an FIR was registered against them.
However, they said that PTI was the only political party, which formally approached the CDA seeking more time to relocate the office; however, the latter declined the request and sealed the party office.
When approached, CDA spokesman Ramzan Sajid confirmed Pakistan Today that the offices of several political parties were sealed.
However when asked that offices of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), National Database and Registration Authority’s (Nadra), Inspector General, the Anti-Narcotics and the office of Inspector General of Motorway Police would also be sealed, he stated that operation would be carried out against non-conforming use of residential buildings sans any discrimination.
When contacted, PPP senator Farhatullah Babar said that PPP will follow the set rules and will not resist the move in any way, because the civic body is taking action on the directions of Supreme Court.
When this scribe contacted PML-Q senior leader Ajmal Khan Wazir, he termed it a politically motivated move and added that there is no justification to seal the office, because it is not a rented house rather it is a property of the party, where people are residing.
He alleged that the state minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Tariq Fazal Chaudhry is behind the move, because he is using all options to seal the office since his home is being used by PML-N for political purpose.
He said that there is dispute between PML-N and PML-Q over the possession of PML House and the matter is sub-judice in Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Earlier, the capital authority at the last hearing submitted a detailed report before the apex court, stating that 2,075 houses in the capital’s residential areas were being used for commercial purposes.
The list included 392 schools, 175 guest houses, 110 salons, 99 hospitals and clinics, 308 furniture stores, 172 restaurants and hotels, 790 government and private offices and 16 foreign missions.
According to the CDA Ordinance 1960 and Building and Zoning Regulations, commercial outlets, including offices of political parties, cannot operate in residential areas.