Action against encroachments by wealthy, influential property barons sees the light of the day
On July 28, CDA’s Building Control Section finally sealed Safa Gold Mall in F-7, Islamabad. The mall was previously issued many notices pertaining to building by-laws violations, covering of a nearby nullah, making of a cinema on its eighth floor and encroachment on land adjacent to the plot.
Previously on March 15, a final notice was served to the mall by the CDA asking the authorities at Safa Mall to remove its chillers and generators from CDA-owned land within 10 days. The authorities at Safa Mall didn’t budge an inch even after receiving the notice.
CDA’s enforcement wing is famed for conducting all sorts of ‘encroachment missions’ in adjacent localities of Islamabad. The perpetual targets of enforcement wing’s ire are road-side food stalls and ‘khokha’ owners, petty vendors of miscellaneous items, sellers of eatable on cycles, corn sellers, vegetable stall owners, etc. These poor folks are on the receiving end of a constant thrashing by capital’s civic authority while the wealthy consistently trounce on every notice issued by CDA.
For past many months, CDA issued daily press releases of action taken against encroachers. Prima facie, these actions are taken against those who have encroached upon state’s land illegally. However, if one scratches the surface a bit, the ugly reality of such operations fully comes to the light. The majority of these operations, barring few exceptions, have been conducted against the poorest segments of the society. Their entire livelihoods have been razed to the ground without even serving a single notice. On the other hand despite repeated warnings, serving of multiple notices, and even after the final warning, the mighty and money-minting enterprise of Safa Gold Mall was given several months to mend their ways.
“Islamabad is a savage city if you are not rich or influential, you’ll be treated like an insect by the police, the authorities and especially by CDA. I live in sector I-10; we strive to have water, the garbage heaps remain untouched, and the roads are in shambles. We constantly fear the encroachment action against us. When we visit F-6, F-7 we barely believe that these sectors are also part of Islamabad,” said Haroon Masih, who lives in a makeshift shack near I-10.
Whether it’s the notorious car dealer mafia eating up the parking space for customers in Islamabad or billionaire property barons who have gigantic shopping malls, they scoff at the rules and regulations of CDA. CDA has proved itself to be a docile entity that barely wages a forceful action against the powerful, influential lot; however, it shows a massive disdain when it comes to razing the shanties, mud huts, food-stalls, khokhas, and cycles of the vendors to embellish itself in the eyes of the high-ups.
The second most beautiful capital in the world is in dire need to democratize its institutions as soon as possible. Giving the poor and hapless masses a stick from state’s side every time, whereas ignoring the influential lot won’t bode well for Islamabad. If an action is taken, it must be taken across the board.
