RAWALPINDI: The task force of the district administration, Rawalpindi Development Authority and the police conducted a grand operation against three illegal housing schemes and demolished gates and bunkers set up on their premises besides sealing their site offices.

The decision to carry out the operation was made at a special meeting of the Divisional Intelligence Committee (DIC) held at the police station of Chountra on Saturday night.

Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chatha along with RPO Syed Khurram Ali presided over the meeting which was attended by Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, CPO Khalid Mahmood Hamdani and officials from other departments.

The members of the DIC decided that no one will be allowed to create law and order, adding the operation against all illegal housing societies should be conducted across the board.

Decision to conduct grand operation made at a special meeting of Divisional Intelligence Committee

The commissioner said the deputy commissioner, CPO and the RDA director general will supervise the operation.

On the instructions of DIC, the operation was conducted by police, district administration and RDA against Blue World, Abdullah City and Avalon City located on Chakri Road. During the operation, bunkers, main gates in the illegal housing societies were demolished and their site offices sealed.

RDA Director General Saif Anwar Jappa said on the instructions of the commissioner the operation against all illegal societies will continue.

He said complaints had been received from the general public about illegal occupation of land by owners of the illegal housing schemes. Strict action will be taken against those who take possession of land by force. He said the owners of housing schemes holding legal documents had been given possession of their land. The RDA has been issuing warning from time to time for the information of the general public not to invest in the illegal housing schemes.

According to the authorities, notices had already been issued to the owners and sponsors of the three illegal housing schemes and FIRs lodged to stop their illegal advertisements, bookings and development.

The owners were running booking offices of the illegal housing schemes in violation of the rules.

Meanwhile, in the meeting at the Chauntra police station, the commissioner was informed that a four-day operation against illegal housing societies was conducted by the RDA. As many as 70 private housing schemes had been approved by the RDA.

The meeting was told that 345 cases were registered against owners of illegal housing societies on the charges of murders, shootings and possessing illegal weapons. Of these cases, 270 were registered for possessing illegal weapons and 274 people involved in these cases have been arrested.

Addressing the meeting, the commissioner said people should avoid investing in unapproved housing schemes.

Encroachment of land should be addressed. The public should be informed through media, social media and billboards to avoid investing in illegal housing schemes.

He said in October, the records of land not yet computerised will be computerised. The housing societies will be obliged to have security guards from registered companies after verification from the concerned police station.

Officials of RDA and Revenue Department found involved in activities of illegal housing schemes have been suspended and action was being taken against them.

The RPO said those possessing illegal weapons will be arrested. Security guards who are not hired from registered companies will be arrested along with their owners. Cases filed in the last few years will be re-examined.

Strict legal action will also be taken against those obstructing the operation. All actions will be within the ambit of the law.

The CPO said police were conducting an operation along with the district administration against illegal housing societies. Strong action will be taken against firing incidents and possessing illegal weapons.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2023