ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Friday moved against the ‘influentials’ of the capital as it demolished additional structures built on the premises of residential buildings located in Sector F-7, which are being used for business activities.

“We had served notices on the owners but they did not do anything. Therefore, an operation was conduced against the illegal structures,” said CDA spokesman Asim Khichi. “Others should consider their options and stop business activities in the residential areas.”

The CDA team, consisting of officials from the Building Control Section (BCS), enforcement and other formations, removed signboards from 15 houses overlooking Jinnah Super Market, which were being used for commercial activities.

Civic agency says commercial activities being carried out in over 1,000 residences in ‘F’ sectors alone

“The operation against non-conforming use of residential buildings has been launched from College Road at F-7 Sector to ward off the impression that the CDA was not doing anything against the violations in the up-market sectors,” Mr Khichi added.

Sources in the civic body said that to minimise any opposition from the business operators, the CDA management chose Friday to launch the operation as there was a negligible presence of customers before the Friday prayers in the commercial centres.

The CDA team took action against a famous carpet brand, prominent boutiques, beauty salons and fitness centres and interior decorations. More than five truckloads of dismantled signboards and other structures were confiscated.

“This is a warning and in the second phase these houses will be sealed,” Director Enforcement Mohammad Iqbal said, adding: “Another operation against houses where businesses are operated is expected next week.”

There are around 2,200 cases of business activities in residential areas, and the CDA has started issuing notices and streamlining the cases against the owners.

“This figure includes pure commercial activities like restaurants, boutiques, guesthouses, government and private offices and a large number of educational institutes,” said Member Estate Amer Ali.

“However, taking action against the educational institutions and offices is our last priority,” he added.

The list prepared by the planning wing mainly related to the commercial ventures and showed that the majority of non-confirming use of residential buildings was in the F sector series with 1,000 houses operating different kinds of businesses.

This is followed by 461 houses in G series, 375 in I sectors and around 53 in the E sectors.“Before issuing show-cause notices, we need to check if there is any pending court case against the outlet like it has obtained a stay order etc,” said an official of the planning wing.

The CDA action is gaining success only due to the backing of the Islamabad High Court, as most of the stay orders against previous show-cause notices issued by the CDA have been vacated by the IHC.

“Earlier, we were helpless to take action against the violators of the building by-laws as they went into litigations,” added the director enforcement.

An official of the planning wing said the last major operation against violators of building by-laws was in 2001 but it was ended on the orders of the court.

The “CDA started the campaign in 2001 against those using residential buildings for commercial purposes and issued notices to a number of violators. However, Colonel Javed Agha, who was also using his house for commercial activities, challenged the notice in the Lahore High Court (LHC)’s Rawalpindi bench,” the official said.

“The LHC granted Mr Agha relief and restrained the authority from taking any action against him. As a result of the court cover, floodgates of non-conforming use were opened. But now due to the support of IHC we hope to bring discipline to the city again,” said the member estate.

In a statement, CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal appealed to citizens operating businesses in residential areas to abide by the by-laws.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2014