ISLAMABAD: The land affected people of Islamabad are up in arms against the recent decision of Capital Development Authority (CDA) board under which they would be given cash compensation instead of plots against their built-up property (BuP) claims.

The CDA last week took the decision following an IHC single bench ruling which stated that instead of allotting plots the CDA should provide cash compensation to those whose land and houses had been acquired.

The affected people of various areas held a meeting in E-11 on Sunday, which besides others was attended by ruling party MNAs Anjum Aqeel Khan, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Malik Abrar Ahmed. The land affectees said the CDA board had changed the policy of clearing pending compensations/plots.

They said they had natural attachment with their areas and should be given their BuP plots in the same areas instead of cash compensation. The land affectees vowed that they would not accept the policy. If the CDA did not withdraw its decision the affected people would not hand over possession of their land to the CDA. They also stated that they had filed an appeal in Islamabad High Court against the ruling.

Say owners of built-up property will not hand over possession of land to CDA if decision not withdrawn

The ruling party MNAs assured the locals that their legitimate demands would be met and they would help them in getting their rights pending for decades.

MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the CDA would be asked to make a new policy to resolve genuine issues.

When contacted, MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan said, “We assured them that their legitimate demands would be met,” adding the CDA board decision was not implementable as how the civic agency can clear billions of rupees cash compensation to the affectees.

“The issue of affectees cannot be sorted out without input from local MNAs. This is a chronic issue and unfortunately CDA has failed in resolving the issues of affectees and also in developing new sectors,” he said and added that all three MNAs on Friday also met the CDA chairman and informed him about the resentment of public on the recent decision.

“CDA should make a clear cut policy, genuine people should be given plots against their acquired land and if there is any fraud claim that should be thrown to dustbin with action against the mover,” he said and added that because of issues between land affectees and the CDA no new sector could be developed during the last over two decades.

“C-13 is smallest sector of Islamabad and it was acquired years ago, but still the CDA has failed to develop it.” He said the government would support locals in getting their rights.

“As far as CDA board decision, which is based on the IHC order, the affected people have filed an appeal in IHC,” he said, adding E-12 was acquired in the 80s and the CDA sold out plots but development work is not completed even after 35 years.

Besides, the CDA has four sectors along the Margalla Road – C-13, C-14, C-15 and C-16. Work in C-13 has never started while in 2022, CDA awarded the contract for development of C-14 and C-15. The work in these two sectors was supposed to be completed by June this year, but the contractor missed the deadline which was extended by the CDA.

Sources said work continued in C-14 at a substantial pace, but after completing around 30pc work in C-15 it was halted about a few months ago. The BuP claims of C-15, which were decided in 2016, are still pending on part of CDA and locals have created hurdles in the development work.

Besides, there is no clue when the CDA would start development in several other acquired sectors, including D-13, E-13, F-13, and H-16.

The CDA could not develop any new sector except Park Enclave Housing Scheme after D-12, which was completed in 2008.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2024