ISLAMABAD: While business activities continue to flourish in the residential areas of F-6 and F-7 sectors despite operations launched by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the civic agency has decided to initiate another operation in the residential areas of F-8.

After a gap of more than a month, the CDA on Monday resumed the drive against the non-conforming use of residential buildings by blocking the entrance to many businesses at F-8 sector.

The decision to restart the operation was taken by CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal after a meeting on Sunday.

“The main concern was related to law and order situation, especially in the wake of the political crisis in the city,” said a senior official of the civic body.

The drive against the non-confirming use was initiated before Eidul Fitr during which the CDA demolished and closed many commercial activities in the residential areas of sectors F-6 and F-7.

“It had been decided at the outset that the operation would be conducted mainly in posh sectors otherwise there would be a serious allegation of being partial,” CDA spokesman Asim Khichi said.

The operation on Monday was jointly launched in F-8 sector by the building control section and the enforcement directorate of the CDA.

Without checking non-conforming use of residential buildings in F-6 and F-7, CDA extends operation to F-8

During the operation, action was taken against Tehzeeb Restaurant, Maskan Restaurant, Bombay Restaurant, Siena Restaurant, Anum Store, Casa Bella Furniture showrooms and Vagus Cosmetics.

“Apart from removing signboards and other illegal structures, we used excavators to dig ditches at the entrances of Tehzeeb Restaurant, Maskan Restaurant, Siena Restaurant and Bombay Restaurant in F-8 to prevent customers from entering these business centres,” said the director enforcement, Mohammad Iqbal,

Similarly, the building control and enforcement directorates also took action against Anum Store, Casa Bella Furniture and Vagus Cosmetics in residential houses in F-8 and demolished illegal structures.

“Not only are these businesses being operated by influential but their clientele was also from the powerful segment of society, we provided all details verbally and in writing to the senior officers, including the CDA chairman,” Mr Iqbal added.

Meanwhile, in a statement the CDA chairman said the civic body would not allow any business activities in the residential units, adding the operations would continue against the non-confirming use of land in the residential areas.

It may be noted that Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court had directed the CDA in the first week of June to stop the non-conforming use of residential buildings in a month.

However, the civic body still seems to be directionless in controlling the business activities. The campaign against such businesses was launched almost a month after the court directives.

“The issue gets complicated as we have to follow rules and law,” the CDA spokesman added.

“First of all, cases were pursued in the courts to ensure that there was no stay order and this process took almost one month.”

The proceedings related to the closure of businesses in residential activities are conducted in the court of the deputy commissioner CDA, and the average time for each proceeding is around three months.

Published in Dawn, September 9th , 2014