ISLAMABAD - In line with court's orders that seek blanket operation against illegal commercial activities in residential areas, the demolition squad of Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday entered F-7 sector, known as hub of influential businessmen, and removed the signboards and illegal structures.
This has been for the first time since several years that CDA has launched operation against the powerful business owners in posh sector of Islamabad as earlier, the owners had preempted any such move by bring stay orders from courts.
"This time we have been asked by Islamabad High Courts (IHC) itself to purge the capital of business outlets being run in residential areas. The CDA will discourage nonconforming use of residential units for commercial activities," Director Enforcement Directorate CDA Muhammad Iqbal told The Nation.
During the operation carried on Monday, CDA removed signboards and demolished the illegal structures, which were against the CDA building bylaws; however, the enforcement squad did not seal or demolish the buildings.
The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Islamabad police. During the move against the illegal business activities in the residential units, special teams dislodged the signboards and encroachments inside the houses were also demolished.
The CDA warned the second phase of the operation would begin soon and would conclude with complete sealing of the mentioned shops.
The CDA team also retrieved its land which was illegally possessed by two hotels in F-7 Markaz.
The sheds and other illegal structures in the green area have been demolished. Besides, 12 illegally constructed structures in the Flowers Market of F-7 Markaz have also been demolished.
Official sources told The Nation that during the operation, the top officials of CDA had switched off their cell phones in order to avoid calls of political figures in favour of the illegal shop owners.
"Members of all political parties in National Assembly and Senate called me and requested to spare particular shops in the operation. But I would simply reply that the power to spare shops lies with courts," a deputy director, who was involved in the drive, said.
Meanwhile, a statement issued here said that Chairman CDA Maroof Afzal has directed the concerned formations of the authority to submit weekly report about the operation on regular basis and carry out the move without any discrimination.
He further directed for stern action against the violators of CDA building bylaws to discourage the nonconforming use of land in the federal capital. He also directed the concerned formations to ensure availability for machinery and manpower for the operation.