ISLAMABAD, Dec 3: McDonalds, the international fast food chain, has opened its first outlet in Islamabad in haste - to beat a court action that some citizens were contemplating, it seems.

It is alleged that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) violated its own rules by leasing out the site to the American chain.

President Islamabad Hotels and Motels Owners Association Malik Sohail complained to Dawn that the outlet was still incomplete by 25 per cent. “It has been opened in haste as some senior citizens had decided to obtain a stay order from the high court.

“The most significant violation evident to anyone is gobbling up of the green belt and proposed Blue Area extension site around the park to give access to the outlet from two sides - Jinnah Avenue and F-10 Markez Road,” he said.

The CDA revived the deal with the “golden double arch” which it had to abandon a year ago under public pressure, he said.

Dawn has learnt that the CDA, undeterred by the humiliation it had to suffer over its Mini Golf Club and Tennis Club plans, leased out 6,000 square yards in the park land for 20 years at the rate of Rs317,000 per month to Messrs Siza Food which holds the franchise for McDonalds in Pakistan.

CDA’s Director Dr Faisal Awan however said the owners of the fast food had not cut through the green belt, insisting that proper access already existed for the outlet from the main roads.

A total of 5.62 acre area of the park had been given to the fast food chain after Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao approved the proposal, he said.

No rules were violated in finalising the lease agreement as it had been advertised and two parties including Siza Food were short listed and finally the land was given to the highest bidder, the Siza Food.

Informed sources said the CDA resurrected a year-old Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the McDonalds franchise to establish its outlet at a new site in the park, already marked for the extension of Blue Area.

“Though the cost of the land given to the firm is estimated to be Rs4 billion to Rs5 billion, it has been provided on 20-year lease for Rs317,000 per month,” one source said.

After obtaining the land at the corner of the eastern side of the park, the firm started construction work and deployed private security guards to stop entry of public at the new site.

Some of the senior citizens had written letters to Chief Justice of Pakistan and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to check the alleged violation of CDA rules and leasing out the precious land on throw away price.