ISLAMABAD: The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) is planning to launch an operation to remove construction violations, such as sheds and benches erected above and beside burial places, from H-8 and H-11 graveyards.

An officer of the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) who deals with the graveyard wing told Dawn that through various banners, people were directed to remove violations within 90 days. If they failed, the MCI would launch an operation.

He said that besides people, the shopkeepers, who deal in the marble business at graveyards, have also been directed to shun the practice of installing benches and sheds at graveyards.

A notice issued by the graveyard section of DMA dated August 22, stated: “There is strict ban on construction of sheds and benches, but despite repeated directions all the flowers/tablets shop owners in H-8 and H-11 graveyards [are] not bothering to understand this. Treat this [letter] as final notice otherwise disobeying directions may result in cancellation of license, especially regarding the making of ‘dots’ on the graves,” read the notice.

Hundreds of graves reserved in both cemeteries despite ban

Meanwhile, many people on social media have been highlighting that in MCI’s own graveyards, there are large numbers of reserved graveyards, which according to them was injustice to others. During a visit to these graveyards, Dawn also noticed a number of reserved spots.

The officials, however, claimed that not a single grave was reserved after June 2021 when the federal ombudsman directed the DMA to stop this practice. They said that before this order of the ombudsman, there was a provision in the rules to reserve graves on a kinship basis. They said that the spots reserved by people before the said decision would be given to them in accordance with their advance booking. But there is no more booking, they added.

The ombudsman in his order also directed that the people should be discouraged from showing off their status by constructing lofty structures on graves.

“After the ombudsman’s directive of 2021, we stopped reserving graves,” said graveyard officer Abdul Razzaq. He said as far as the installation of sheds and benches was concerned, the shopkeepers dealing in marble and building materials have been issued notices.

The officer said all staff had already been directed to remain vigilant to stop the new construction of benches and sheds.

Sources said that hundreds of people have reserved graves in the H-11 and H-8 graveyards even though the latter was closed to the general public in 2007-08. Though the civic agency closed the H-8 graveyard years ago, VIPs, top bureaucrats and other influential people are still being buried there. After closing the facility, the CDA opened the H-11 graveyard.

During a visit to both the graveyards, Dawn noted that hundreds of people had reserved graves in both the graveyards. Sources in the graveyard wing, quoting last year’s data, stated that there were 2,700 reserved graves in H-11 and 450 in the H-8 graveyard.

The civic agency also placed notices on both the graveyards, which stated: “Public at large is hereby informed that on the order of federal ombudsman dated 7-6-2021, no grave will be reserved at any graveyards of MCI.”

They said that a couple of lawmakers and several retired bureaucrats were among those who wanted to be buried in these graveyards and they got the place booked.

An official deputed at H-11 graveyard told Dawn that officially there is Rs3,600 fee including plot, slabs and mud grave (without bricks). He, however, said that people opt for bricks in graves and private contractors provide them with bricks on the spot against payment.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2023