ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Sunday conducted a mega operation in Bheka Syedan F-11, demolishing around 100 houses/structures.

The area falls in sector F-11, right in front of the markaz but due to various reasons, the CDA could not get it cleared, as locals had been claiming that their compensation cases were pending.

Officials said that since 2011, the CDA has been making attempts to get the possession of the said land, but due to litigation it could not execute its plan.

They said that recently, the civic agency got various stays cleared, therefore, it conducted operations to clear the area. CDA officials said that meanwhile, over 100 original allottees also filed cases against the CDA for getting possession of plots. To this, the CDA first conducted an operation on Wednesday on a small scale and on Sunday, the operation was conducted on a large scale as around 100 houses and structures were demolished.

CDA official says 65pc of area cleared; locals given time until operation restarts in a few days

CDA, backed by police and local administration demolished the houses with heavy machinery. “We have cleared around 65pc of the area today. The locals requested us to give them one day for voluntarily demolishing their houses, therefore, we stopped the operation for one day,” said an official of CDA, who was part of the operation team.

He said that the civic agency would re-start the operation in the next couple of days, in case people did not remove their structures.

“Meanwhile, we are going to submit a report before Islamabad High Court regarding operations and overall status of sector F-11,” he said.

The CDA had acquired sector F-11 through three awards announced in 1980, 82 and 85. According to CDA, it had cleared almost all compensation cases but over 100 locals are still claiming that their compensation is pending. An official of CDA said that some two decades back, then CDA deputy commissioner announced a review award making around 100 more people eligible for getting plots.

Later, the CDA contested the said review and claimed that the review cases had no legal standing and it was announced on the basis of bogus documents.

“Now, the chronic issue of F-11 is going to end. After clearing all land, we will carry out necessary development work before handing over plots to allottees.

“Whereas, in the said area (where operation was conducted) there is a planned class three shopping centre, which will be auctioned against billions of rupees,” the official said.

It is relevant to note here that CD’s enforcement wing is active since the last one week and so, as it first demolished hundreds of structures from sector C-13, Park Enclave III was cleared before moving towards F-11.

CDA Chairman Noorul Amin Mengal had authorised the member estate Afnan Alam to conduct mega operation in Islamabad.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2023