Daily Times

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) postponed an anti-encroachment operation against property tycoon Malik Riaz owned housing society scheme Bahria Enclave despite bringing machinery, team and officials on the site on Friday.

Malik Riaz has illegally grabbed the government land of 510 kanals under the Bahria Enclave Housing Scheme on Kuri Road, the civic agency identified in its demarcation survey.

Following grabbing illegal land, the CDA issued a notice to Bahria Enclave to vacate government land before November 30, 2018.

Bahria enclave in response through a letter, notified CDA chairman that Bahria Enclave is ready to purchase the said land but their request was cancelled.

The CDA team along with machinery and officials of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), arrived early morning on the spot to carry the anti-encroachment drive but later the high official’s orders of postpone the operation were carried out.

An official of the encroachment wing informed that “we arrived early morning to carry the drive but later we got orders from the higher ups to cancel the drive due to unknown reasons”. He added that “we were ready to clear the government land from Bahria Enclave but were left with no option on receiving different orders later”.

An official of the ICT, while talking exclusively to Daily Times said that local residents staged a protest demonstration and demanded the tenants to vacate their buildings. He added that notice was served to them on Friday to vacate the area.

Riaz arrived at the CDA chairman’s office for a meeting to discuss the matter.

CDA Spokesman Safdar Shah was not available to comment on the issue.

Published in Daily Times, December 1^st 2018.