ISLAMABAD: Despite flexing its muscles in its current drive against the non-conforming use of residential buildings for business purposes, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) seems helpless when it comes to confronting law enforcement departments guilty of the same violation.

The CDA has sought the interior ministry’s assistance to have residential buildings that are being used as offices by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Motorways IGP and other departments, vacated.

“Fearing a backlash, we are not going to shut down the offices of law enforcement departments directly, which is why we have sought the interior ministry’s help. According to the law, the offices could be sealed for non-conforming use,” a CDA official said.

So far, CDA has sealed over 60 commercial outlets operating in residential areas.

A letter from the CDA chairperson to the interior secretary stated that there were six houses being used by law enforcement agencies: the NADRA office in F-6/3, the Islamabad IGP office in F-7, the Motorways IGP office in F-8/3, the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) office in F-8/4 and two FIA offices in F-10/4.

Authority may also go after political parties’ offices housed in residential areas

The letter stated that the aforementioned premises fall under the purview of the Ministry of Interior, and are being used as offices against the provision of scheme plan and in violation of the CDA Ordinance, 1960 and Building and Zoning Regulations.

“It’s therefore requested that concerned formations may be directed to bring the abovementioned premises into conforming use immediately, by shifting the offices from residential houses, otherwise CDA will be constrained to seal the above premises,” the letter, which is available with Dawn, read.

Sources in CDA said that these offices are located in residential areas, and that residents have repeatedly lodged complaints calling for these offices to be shifted but no action was taken.

When contacted, CDA spokesperson Ramzan Sajid said he had no knowledge of the letter. “Without checking the letter in question, I can’t comment on this issue,” he said. Mr Sajid added that CDA is committed to action against all violators, whether they were commercial outlets or government offices.

Political parties

Sources said that CDA is also planning to take up the case of political party offices in residential areas with the Cabinet Division.

A CDA official said: “We have decided not to start any direct action against political parties. Rather, we will engage the Cabinet Division in this regard.”

The official added that the Cabinet Division will take up the issue with the political parties. “As a last resort, we will launch an operation against the political parties,” the official said.

Sources said that the office of the ruling PML-N is located in Street 10, F-8/3.

The JI office is in Street 80, G-6/2, the PTI office is in Street 84, G-6/4, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) office is in G-6/3, the PPP office is in G-6/4 while the PPP parliamentarian camp office is in Street 19, F-8/3 and the PML-Q office is in F-7/3.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2015