ISLAMABAD: A commission formed to resolve issues regarding compensation for people affected by the acquisition of land gave the Capital Development Authority (CDA) the go-ahead to compensate them.

The commission was formed last year on directives from the Islamabad High Court with MNAs Ali Nawaz Awan, Khurram Nawaz and Asad Umar as its members. It formalised a new procedure and then directed the CDA to start processing compensation.

Sources said the commission has directed the CDA to first resolve the issues facing affected people from E-12, Bheka Syedan in F-11, I-11 and I-12 and the Submal Korak and Golra Sharif villages.

According to the minutes of a commission meeting held on Dec 31, 2019, released a few days ago: “[Mr Awan] apprised the participants that as per instructions of Honorable Islamabad High Court urgent steps are required to resolve the issues of settlement of compensation to the affectees of various sectors of Islamabad.”

The meeting decided that there would not further anti-encroachment operations in E-12 after the issues of genuine affected people are settled.

“It was discussed that only legitimate claims of affectees of above mentioned sectors may be settled urgently and disbursement of compensation/plots may be made only within the recognized award/orders as per commission report on E-12,” the minutes read.

A one window setup will be established in the land directorate to facilitate affected people from I-11, I-12 and E-12, the minutes said, and a public notice would be issued telling them to contact the setup to resolve their issues with the CDA.

On Bheka Syedan in F-11, the minutes state that payment may be distributed according to the award for built-up property (BUP).

“Staff of Tehsildar Office will coordinate with members of Commission namely Jamshed Mughal and Azam Khan and report must be submitted before next meeting positively,” they read, adding that the Submal Korakcase pertains to the extension of model villages and has been with the planning wing for years.

The land and estate directorate general may coordinate with the planning wing and submit a detailed report in the next meeting, the minutes said.

BUP issues of Golra Sharif must be prepared and submitted before the next meeting, the minutes said. The meeting decided that the former land director Farid-ud-din– who is currently under suspension – will assist the commission in settlements with affected people from various villages.

The IHC last year directed for affected people’s cases to be settled. The process of compensating affected people, whose land was acquired by the CDA and were entitled to monetary compensation and land, was halted for the last few years amid reports of malpractice and corruption.

Many people whose land was used for the development and expansion of Islamabad were running from pillar to post for their alternate plots and compensation because of malpractice by the CDA.

Mr Awan, who is also the prime minister’s special assistant on CDA affairs, told Dawn that it was decided that original affected people would be given their dues in a bit to remove the role of middlemen.

“It is unfortunate that local people have been running from pillar to post for years. We, particularly Planning Minister Asad Umar and MNA Khurram Nawaz, are taking steps to help people in getting their due rights,” he said.

“We have directed the CDA to display lists of affectees and setup a special desk to facilitate them. But let me make one thing very clear, only those people whose names are part of the original award lists would be compensated,” he said.

Mr Awan said that after E-12, I-11, I-12, Bheka Sayedan and Golra, the pending cases of others areas would also be resolved in phases.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2020