ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA), which took an “exemplary action” against the under-construction Grand Hyatt Hotel, seems adopting a lenient approach towards Safa Gold Mall in which several officers of the civic agency are allegedly involved in giving undue favour to the owner.

In 2016, after a delay of years, an inquiry was conducted which pointed out building by-law violations in the Safa Gold Mall. The inquiry termed three storeys of the mall illegal and recommended action against some CDA officials.

However, instead of implementing the recommendations of the inquiry, the city managers ordered a de novo (fresh) inquiry, saying there were chances that other officers might also be involved in the mega scam.

So far, however, the fresh inquiry could not be finalised, raising many eyebrows.

Last year, an inquiry found several officials gave ‘undue favours’ to owner, but a fresh CDA probe is still pending

“I’m pursuing this case and recently checked the status of the inquiry from the concerned member. Very soon the inquiry will be finalised,” Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz, who is also the CDA chairman, told Dawn.

The fresh inquiry is being conducted by a three-member team, headed by Member Estate Khushal Khan.

When contacted, Mr Khan told Dawn that the inquiry was under process. “Since the matter is complicated, I’m checking all relevant record because I don’t want to implicate anyone in haste,” he said, negating the impression that the inquiry was facing a delay.

There is a general perception in the CDA that action could not be taken against big guns involved in mega cases. Some officials Dawn spoke to said what action was taken in over 20 high-profile cases whose inquiries were conducted on the directive of a judicial commission. These included the Monal restaurant, Diplomatic Shuttle Service, Centaurus Mall cases, surrendering state land to private housing societies.

“Keeping the track record in view, I believe there will be no serious action against those involved in the Safa Gold Mall case,” said a CDA officer who requested not to be named.

In October last year, a three-member inquiry committee, headed by former member engineer Shahid Sohail, pointed out irregularities in the Safa Gold Mall and recommended the removal of three additional storeys built in violation of the by-laws.

The inquiry had found two officials responsible for facilitating the violations: former building control deputy director Malik Murtaza, who recently retired, and deputy director Ammar Idrees. Other officials nominated in the preliminary inquiry were cleared.

The owner of the mall was allowed to build seven storeys in addition to the ground floor, instead of the agreed upon ground-plus four floors.

The Safa Gold Mall management and the CDA later approached the Islamabad High Court. A few months ago, the CDA proposed a Rs2 billion fine on the owner for the illegal construction. The matter is, however, pending in the court.

In 2010, the CDA management auctioned Plot No 5 in Jinnah Super Market and the allottee constructed the Safa Gold Mall on the land.

In the 74-page inquiry report, Shahid Sohail stated that the officials of the CDA provided undue favour to the owner of the plot.

“In the allotment letter, it was clearly defined that the floor area ratio of the building would be 1:5 with 100pc coverage and number of storeys would be ground-plus four thus capping the height of the building. In no case, the number of storeys could be enhanced in violation of the relevant planning parameters and clauses of the allotment letter,” the report stated.

It said the building control unit allowed a reduction in the size of the circulation area, thus increasing the number of storeys without bringing the post-bid changes to the notice of the CDA board.

The circulation area refers to common space in a commercial building to facilitate customers such as lobbies, corridors and verandas.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2017