IHC halts crackdown on illegal structures

[Salman]

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on January 6 issued a stay order against the planned crackdown on allegedly illegal structures in Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Housing Society in Sector G-15.

According to a letter issued by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) directorate on December 28, construction in the society violated the approved layout plan, which is why authority officials asked for magisterial cover and police assistance to conduct a search operation and then the actual operation in which many buildings would be razed. As the area is highly populated by commercial and residential spaces along GT Road, the court had initially directed the authority to adopt coercive measures to remove the illegal structures.

However, petitioner Omer Arshad, represented by counsel Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas, challenged this letter, claiming that plots in the area were auctioned with the approval of the CDA and building plans were also not objected to. The counsel argued that the petitioner had invested time and money into the development of the society and the notice of demolition was issued without any justification.

The CDA’s chairman, director enforcement, director housing, the deputy commissioner and the president of the housing society were cited as respondents in the petition filed.

Justice Aamer Farooq asked the CDA to respond by January 13 and also sent the case back to the chief justice of the IHC to amend the situation in front of the bench that had entertained the case in the first place.