ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Friday sealed over one dozen shops illegally set up on a plot originally allotted for the construction of a cinema. However, after a few hours, all the shops were de-sealed.

When the building control directorate on the charge of non-conforming use sealed the shops, the traders staged a protest demonstration in front of the main CDA office and chanted slogans against the chairman and others.

The traders said they had already obtained a stay from court against being evicted. After the protest, the civic agency de-sealed the shops.

Decades ago, the CDA had allotted the amenity plot in Sitara Market on a throwaway price for the construction of a cinema house.

Protesters insist they have stay order against eviction; official says will contest case in court to get stay vacated

The allottee built Kohsar Cinema on the ploy which remained in operation till early 2000.

However, in alleged connivance with the CDA officials, the owner later halted the cinema’s operation and started using the building for commercial purposes.

He set up dozens of shops on the ground floor and opened a hotel on the first and second floors.

The concerned directorate of the CDA kept itself confined to “issuing notices” only. However, recently it was revealed that despite massive non-conforming use the CDA’s estate wing had transferred the property to its new buyer/s.

According to CDA rules, a property can’t be transferred without removal of violations, if any, and under the same rules the civic agency never transferred even a five-marla house until violations such as the construction of an extra-washroom in the setback area are demolished by the owner.

But in the latest case, without having the cinema on the plot, which was the main purpose for the allotment, and the construction of dozens of unauthorised shops and a hotel, the CDA officials transferred the property to a new owner.

When the matter was highlighted, CDA Chairman Anwarul Haq last month ordered an inquiry to fix responsibility for the scam. The inquiry committee is yet to complete its findings.

Meanwhile, the building control swung into action and sealed the shops only to de-seal them hours later because of the stay order.

The CDA has a fully-fledged law directorate and it is now the responsibility of the directorate to get the stay vacated by pursuing the case.

“Today, because of court orders we de-sealed all shops. Now we will contest the case in court to get the stay vacated. Meanwhile, the owner has also assured the civic agency that he will set up a cinema in the building as he has also erected Kohsar Cinema’s board there,” said an officer of the CDA who was part of the sealing and de-sealing operation.

CDA officials told Dawn that the cinema house used to be a popular place for the citizens till it was closed down. They said the civic agency had in the late 60s allocated three plots at throwaway prices for the construction of cinema houses.

The first of the three cinemas was built in the Melody Market in 1966. In 1974, the government-owned and now defunct National Film Development Corporation (Nafdec) was set up with its two movie halls, the Nafdec I and II, in Blue Area, F-6, and the third cinema at G-7 Sitara Market.

The Melody Cinema was burnt down on October 7, 2003, during a protest against the killing of Azam Tariq, who was the head of the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba, and has since been abandoned. The other Nafdec cinemas were also closed.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2023