ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: An uncertain future awaits the new hotels and restaurants being built in the high-security diplomatic enclave as the Capital Development Authority is rethinking the licences it issued them after the capital police conveyed concern over the activity.

CDA spokesman Ramzan Sajid confirmed that a request was received from the police to cancel the permission granted for constructing five hotels and restaurants and has been referred to the planning wing of the body for advice.

“We will address police's security concerns and also examine our by-laws whether the enclave needs these hospitality facilities,” the spokesman told Dawn on Thursday.

It has been learnt that the police personnel guarding the diplomatic enclave were alarmed at the on-going construction and informed their chief that the new hotels and restaurants would increase the security risk for the enclave unnecessarily.

“Two clubs managed by foreigners already exist there to serve the diplomatic community. There is no need to establish more as the UN Club and the French Club are enough for the limited number of foreigners residing in the enclave,” said police sources.

Security worries eventually made the city's Inspector General of Police to write to the city administration and the CDA, requesting that the ubiquitous ‘No Objection Certificates’ issued to the under construction hotels and restaurants be cancelled, the sources said.

They argue that the restricted entry now maintained by the police will have to be softened in case the upcoming facilities are allowed to go into business.

In his letter to the CDA chairman, the IGP cautioned that terrorists had been consistently trying to penetrate the security of the enclave where most of the diplomatic missions have moved for security.