ISLAMABAD: A commission was notified on Monday to verify the claims of people affected by the anti-encroachment operation that they possessed land ownership documents issued to them by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration.
A joint anti-encroachment operation is currently being conducted by the ICT administration and the CDA to retrieve right of way of Korang River on the directives of the Supreme Court. Recently, the CDA also conducted a mega operation to retrieve state land along the right of way of Kashmir Highway.
A senior administration officer told Dawn that the offices of the chief commissioner and the deputy commissioner were flooded with complaints by people affected by the anti-encroachment operation that they owned the land legally.
But buildings and other structures built on the land were demolished during the operation after declaring them encroachments, they added.
Sources in the ICT administration said it had been decided that a proper inquiry would be conducted into the claims made by people to be affected by the anti-encroachment drive.
They said a three-member ‘Complaint redressal inquiry commission’ had been notified under the supervision of the additional deputy commissioner revenue with the district attorney and the superintendent of police (city circle) as members.
The committee, which was formed by Chief Commissioner Islamabad Joudat Ayaz, is tasked to verify the authenticity of the claims.
After examination of the land records and giving the locals a personal hearing, the commission shall forward the same to the appropriate forum. The commission shall stand dissolved after six months.
Under the ongoing operation, over 600 kanals along the 21-km-long Korang River currently under illegal occupation is to be retrieved.
Recently, the residents of Bhara Kahu and adjoining areas held a protest against the CDA and the ICT administration for issuing them notices of eviction from the right of way of the river.