ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of Capital Development Authority (CDA) enforcement officials backed by police turned back after demolishing a small portion of a large home, in what was supposed to be a grand operation against illegal construction along the Nullah Korang.

The CDA’s ‘brigade’ of enforcement officials, as well as Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration and police officials carried out an operation in Mohra Noor, Banigala, against homes built on the Nullah Korang.

The operation was supervised by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat, and Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Kamran Cheema and Director Enforcement Faheem Badshah were also present. Around a dozen CDA vehicles, including two heavy machines, were also used.

Hundreds of officials backed by the police and local administration demolished part of a house before postponing encroachment operation until today

The operation began in the evening and was postponed until today (Wednesday) after sunset.

The CDA has been ordered by the Supreme Court to begin an operation against those who have built on the nullah.

Speaking to Dawn, Mr Shafqaat said the operation will continue until Friday. He said it is being conducted on SC directives and will remove scores of homes built on state land.

However, homeowners repeatedly asked ICT and CDA officials to show them written orders from the SC, which officials did not produce, and claimed they had not been served any notices by the authority.

Mr Cheema told them that as the responsible officer he was informing them that the operation was being carried out on SC directives.

Sources in the authority, however, said the half-hearted operation was conducted in the evening to sensitise homeowners to the fact that they had built their homes on state land and should vacate them voluntarily for Wednesday’s operation.

One official claimed the operation was conducted in haste without a copy of the written SC order.

“Although the SC directed us yesterday, until we get a copy of the written order we could not move forward with a full force,” the official said.

The official added that efforts are being made to get a copy of the written order.

When the CDA’s officials were turning back on Tuesday, a local taunted them by asking why they were leaving without doing anything and saying: “Your attendance has been marked.”

A committee of officials from the ICT administration, CDA and Small Dams Division recently found massive encroachment on Nullah Korang, a key source of water to Rawal Dam.

A report submitted to the SC by the ICT and CDA also stated that a site visit had found that Khasra no. 153 had been encroached upon through the construction of an unauthorised culvert diverting the flow of the nullah.

A survey report by Survey of Pakistan also pointed out illegal construction on the bed of the nullah.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2018