ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Friday directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate alleged wrongdoings in the construction of Pakistan Housing Foundation’s (PHA) apartments in 1-12.

The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Senator Abdul Rehman Malik also told the agency to expedite investigations against three housing societies.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) owns I-12 where PHA — a subsidiary of Ministry of Housing and Works — is currently constructing 3,200 apartments.

However, the civic agency said PHA had been executing the project while violating CDA’s bylaws.

The CDA, through a working paper, told the committee that the PHA had started the project without getting possession of the site and approval of building plans from the civic agency.

The PHA also made diversion of nullah, besides disturbing the contour/topography of the area by digging and then dumping the same soil on planned residential area.

The CDA in its working paper also claimed that the PHA attitude caused considerable delay in the finalisation of amended/improved layout plan of I-12.

The civic agency said notices were issued to PHA and then the building was sealed but PHA after breaking the seals continuously executing the project.

The committee chairman directed the FIA to look into the issue and submit a report to the committee.

Senator Javed Abbasi objected to the move of the committee chair, saying without discussing the issue, the matter should not be referred to FIA.

“We received the CDA point of view today, before sending the matter to FIA, the matter should be discussed in detail,” he said. But, chair decided to refer the case to FIA, directing the investigation agency to check out the criminal negligence of officers of PHA and CDA. Meanwhile, the committee directed the FIA to expedite the probe against the housing societies namely Top City, Mumtaz City and Multi Garden Housing scheme.

The committee also directed the FIA to present a report on award of a contract to a private company for development of sector E-11.

Meanwhile, the committee also discussed the access issue of some residential sectors, which after constructing of metro bus track, has no direct access to Kashmir Highway.

CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed told the committee that National Highway Authority (NHA) has been working on a proposed interchange, which will be constructed on 17th Avenue on Kashmir Highway.

The CDA chief said that NHA would construct the interchange and they had also completed the initial design of the proposed interchange. He said that this interchange would provide access to Model Jail and sectors I-16, 1-15.

The committee also discussed Islamabad pure food authority bill. The members said that this bill is highly important as there are reports that adulterated food, particularly meat, etc., being sold in the capital city.

The committee directed the ministries of interior and law and mover of the bill, Senator Sajjad Turi, who was not present in the meeting, to discuss the bill and report back to the committee.

The committee also took up National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) Bill, in which mover Mian Mohammad Ateeq Shaikh sought amendment, making it mandatory for Nacta to present its annual reports before the parliament.

The committee, however, decided to seek input from ministries of interior and law in next meeting, when fate of the bill will be decided.

The committee formed a three-member subcommittee on proposed Pakistan Penal Code Amendment Bill, introduced by Senator Mohammad Azam Swati on behalf of Minister for Interior Ijaz Ahmed Shah.

The committee chairman took notice of the hate campaign and derogatory remarks against dignitaries including Chief Justice of Pakistan, political leadership and common people.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2019