Daily Times

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Saturday demolished the lawn of PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bukhari’s house, claiming that it was built on encroached land belonging to the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU). According to CDA total of 80 kanals built up area recovered by demolishing 12 houses including 3 large houses, 15 structures, walls, quarters, library, cattle rooms and guest rooms. The civic agency additionally restores over 180 kanals grabbed open land and handed over to QAU in presence of CDA staff.

“The operation against Nayyar Bukhari’s house is shameful,” said Bilawal in a statement. “It is an attempt to suppress political opinion.”

Strongly condemning the move, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari described the operation as “a tool of political oppression”.

The CDA recently decided to conduct an anti-encroachment drive to clear the land that belongs to QAU. According to a joint action committee of the university, about 298 acres had been encroached upon. Earlier this week, following protests from QAU joint action committee members, sources in CDA and Islamabad Capital Territory administration had said that an operation was being planned to retrieve QAU land from the encroachers based on the joint demarcation report of Survey of Pakistan.

Bilawal demanded that the authorities also conduct an operation at Banigala – Prime Minister Imran Khan’s personal residence. A suo motu case regarding houses allegedly built on encroached land in Banigala is being heard in the Supreme Court.

PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari also came to Bukhari’s defence terming it a political victimization and below the belt tactic advising government to wise up.

“Nayyar Bukhari is being targeted for political revenge,” the former president said. “His house was attacked under the cloak of [an encroachment] operation.

“He has all the ownership documents. This kind of a maneuver is political blackmailing. He (Bukhari) will not be scared by these vengeful activities.” He said that Nayyar Hussain Bukhari is in possession of all required legal documents but he was threatened in the name of operation.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that if there is need of operation against illegal constructions then the residence of Imran Khan in Banigala should be the first one to be demolished. The entire country knows that Imran Khan has built his palace in Banigala illegally. He also warned the selected Prime Minister to refrain from such tactics. The apex court had taken up illegal constructions in Banigala on a letter written by Prime Minister Khan. The premier had invited the court’s attention towards the large-scale encroachment on the botanical garden, unchecked and unplanned construction in Banigala, massive denuding due to large scale tree felling and pollution of the Rawal Lake due to sewage.

The court ordered the regularisation of properties built in Bani Gala but the CDA has held off the procedure until the revision of the city’s master plan.

Published in Daily Times, January 6^th 2019.