ISLAMABAD: Retrieving state land from the illegal possession of six housing societies will be a test case for the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government and the Capital Development Authority (CDA), which is currently conducting an anti-encroachment operation in the city.

Sources in the CDA said around 1,996 kanals was under the alleged illegal occupation of the six housing schemes.

One of these housing schemes is located in Kuri revenue estate falling in Zine IV where a joint team from the CDA and the capital territory administration carried out a land demarcation on Friday.

Joint team demarcates land between Bahria Enclave and CDA in Kuri

During the initial demarcation, sources said it seemed that a portion of state land was also under the possession of Bahria Enclave on which commercial and residential houses had been constructed.

“Today, it was pointed out that the portion of land currently under occupation of Bahria Enclave actually belongs to the CDA. The actual volume of encroachment will be determined at a later stage,” said an official of the CDA who requested not to be named.

Sources said in the presence of Bahria Enclave staff, the CDA and ICT team carried out the demarcation.

The official said the staff of Bahria Enclave objected to the CDA and ICT claim.

When contacted by Dawn, a senior official of Bahria Town, retired Col Khalil, said there was no truth in the claim that Bahria Enclave had encroached upon a portion of the CDA land.

He said the demarcation was under process and before its completion one should not make any conclusion.

However, he added, since Bahria Enclave was a project of thousands of kanals, on its boundary with CDA there might be an overlaping of a few kanals which would be settled during the demarcation.

The joint team is demarcating the revenue estate of Kuri located in Zone IV where it is said thousands of kanals state land is under occupation of various individuals.

Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi also visited Zone IV and directed the CDA and ICT officials to perform their duties without any fear.

During his visit to the area on Thursday, the minister said CDA’s around 28,000 kanals was under the adverse possession and efforts would be made to get it retrieved.

CDA spokesperson Syed Safdar Ali said the joint team visited Bahria Enclave to demarcate the land. But he had no further information.

“Apparently, the government seems determined to continue the grand operation but the test case for it will be when it starts action against housing societies,” said an official of the civic agency.

Explaining the reasons behind the delay in the Kuri Model village project, the official said CDA land in Moza Kuri and Rehala was encroached upon by local people.

He said Kuri Model Village, which would spread over 3,200 acres, Majohan and Rehala mauzas in Zone IV were announced almost 50 years ago.

It could provide thousands of housing units and was equal to around four residential sectors in Islamabad, one of which typically consists of 750 acres.

The official said because of pending built-up-property claims, the CDA was unable to get possession of the land.

He said an initial survey had showed that there were 1,100 occupants of the land but when the CDA began the process to take the acquired land in 2011 the number of claimants rose to 7,000.

The official said most of the claims were bogus as in 2013 the Federal Investigation Agency had cleared only 3,422 landholders.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2018