CDA defers operation against kiosks till Muharram 11

[Salman]

CDA defers operation against kiosks till Muharram 11

The Islamabad Khoka (Kiosk) Association on Friday staged a demonstration in front of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) office against cancellation of licenses of around 500 kiosks in different sectors of the metropolis.



The protesters, led by Islamabad Khoka Association President Abdul Aziz Abbasi and General Secretary Sarfraz Abbasi, demanded of the CDA management to withdraw its decision of sudden cancellation of licenses of kiosks. “The licenses of most of the kiosks, which have been cancelled, were issued over 35 years back,” Sarfraz Abbasi said.



The protesters wanted to march up to Parliament House to register their protest but they changed their plan following interference by officials of the Islamabad administration. “We have been given assurance that there will be no operation against kiosks till 11th of Muharram-ul-Haram,” he said.



He said the CDA wanted to snatch bread and butter from families who rely on income from these kiosks. “If the CDA management feels the kiosks are located at wrong places then we should be given alternative income sources,” he said.



Sources in the CDA said the civic body through its enforcement wing was prepared to start demolition of kiosks on Friday, but the operation was deferred till 11th of Muharram-ul-Haram following protest by the affected people.



“We appeal to the prime minister to intervene into the matter and stop the CDA from rendering us without any income source,” one of the protesters said.



An official of the CDA, when contacted, said that they wanted to do away with ‘Khoka Culture’ in Islamabad. “The concept of kiosks was aimed at facilitating labour and working class to fulfil their food requirements in under developed and newly developed residential sectors,” he said.



The official said in the first phase, the licenses of only those kiosks, which were located in greenbelts and right of way of roads are being cancelled. “The action against kiosks is also a part of beautification of Islamabad,” he said.



However, the official was unaware of any plan of providing alternative space to holders of kiosks who are being displaced.