ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the Capital Development Authority on Thursday decided to retrieve what it said 510 kanals from the alleged illegal possession of Bahria Enclave by sealing three plazas, including some offices of the housing society.

Sources said the newly-appointed Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa some days ago had directed the revenue and enforcement staff to conduct an operation against all those who had encroached upon state land anywhere in Islamabad.

They said following the directive, CDA’s Deputy Commissioner and senior special magistrate Sardar Asif sealed three plazas in Bahria Enclave allegedly built on CDA’s land. One of the sealed plazas housed various offices of Bahria Enclave.

Sources quoting a report prepared by CDA’s revenue department on Thursday stated that seven houses, three plazas, a zoo and the main gate were constructed on CDA’s 35 kanals.

The remaining land was lying vacant in shape of a park. On both sides of the road near the main gate, there was also encroachment on CDA’s land and many houses had already been sold to public. The report said the civic agency’s 510 kanals was in adverse possession.

Earlier, in 2018, CDA had issued a notice to Bahria Enclave to vacate 510 kanals within a week, a day after a local court dismissed Bahria Town’s application seeking a stay against the demarcation of the disputed land. The CDA had conducted an operation, damaging the main gate of the society, but later he civic agency opted to stay calm.

In 2018, in an official press release the CDA had stated: “CDA issued notice under section 49-c of CDA Ordinance, 1960 to M/s Bahria Enclave, Islamabad to hand over possession of the identified land measuring 510 kanal and 6 marlas to CDA.” It said that demarcation of land in the Kuri revenue estate had found that the administration of Bahria Enclave encroached on 510 kanals and six marlas acquired by the CDA and built illegal structures there.

During the first few months of the PTI government in 2018, the CDA conducted an operation aiming at retrieving the land, but backed off from its campaign after slightly damaging the main gate of the society.

Following the operation, the society management also visited CDA and contested the disputed land and also offered payment for some piece of disputed land, however, later he issue was put under the carpet by the CDA.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2024