ISLAMABAD, Aug 7: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) had every right to take possession of land in Pind Sangrial and Sri Saral for Capital’s new residential sector of D-12 after announcing a compensation award in 1985 under the CDA Act 1960.

CDA director (lands) Shaista Suhail made this statement while being cross-examined by District and Sessions Judge Sheikh Ahmed Farooq who was probing the incident in Sri Saral on July 29.

The one-man inquiry commission had asked the director to explain how the CDA could have acquired the lands of those villagers who had not been compensated.

The CDA official agreed that some of the villagers were yet to be compensated, though a majority of them had been compensated and allotted alternative land in the proposed residential sector of I-14.

Replying to another question, the CDA director contended that some villagers had moved the superior courts, preventing the CDA from taking possession of land after announcement of the award.

She informed the commission that she was not present at the scene of the incident, as it was the duty of director (engineering) to supervise the operation.

However, she submitted that she had visited the village on July 15 and met the leading figures of the village including Allah Dad, Abdul Lateef and others who, she claimed, had assured her that they would not resist the operation.

She denied reports that the CDA had entertained false claims of some villagers.

The director (lands) did not answer the commission’s question as to why some of the affected people were not allotted alternative land or compensated. However, the question was answered by a lawyer of the CDA who claimed that the names of those people had not been mentioned in the list.

Deputy Director (enforcement) Inamur Rahim during his cross- examination claimed that Director (enforcement) Chaudhry Mohammad Ali had not snatched a pistol from any policemen nor had he fired on any of the villager as alleged by some of the affected persons.

He, however, expressed his ignorance as to whose fire had caused the death of villagers Haq Nawaz and Abdul Latif.

About the CDA’s preparedness for the operation, he said the enforcement department had contacted the SSP Islamabad for backup, but was told by the SSP that all police personnel were engaged and could not be sent along the CDA personnel.

He insisted that it was Additional Deputy Commissioner General (ADCG) Jodat Ayaz who had issued orders for beginning the operation. He submitted that as soon as bulldozers were moved to the place, a large number of villagers armed with clubs and firearms raided the place and beat up the CDA’s enforcement personnel.

He claimed that two of the “unarmed” policemen present on the occasion, constables Munir and Ajmal, were abducted by the villagers and freed only when police re-enforcement arrived.

He said as soon as police re-enforcement arrived, a cross- fire ensued in which several policemen were injured, including SP Taimur Ali Khan who was still hospitalized.

He expressed his ignorance when asked as to who had ordered the police to open fire on the villagers.

After the cross-examination, a bag full of shells of bullets fired by the police on villagers was also produced before the commission and preserved as evidence.

On Thursday, the commission will record the statements of all 22 villagers who are on judicial remand after being implicated in cases of terrorism.