ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has named the departments of Capital Development Authority (CDA) which have been complicit in recent spread of illegal settlements in the green belts. The FIA claims that officials from a wide range of the CDA departments may also have helped the inhabitants of the settlements to procure vital utility services. In the area around Akram Masih Gill Colony and Rimsha Colony, an illegal settlement housing over 1,200 people has sprung up during the past three years with electricity, water and sanitation facilities.

In a recent letter to the chairman of the CDA, the deputy director of the Anti-Crime Circle of FIA demanded details of the officials who remained posted in the directorates of environment, security and vigilance, enforcement, land and estate management, water supply and sewerage during the last three years. The FIA has also sought other relevant records which could help it determine the scope and quantum of the alleged assistance of the officials of the authority to the illegal occupants in sector H-9 and H-10 of the capital, housing two settlements. Sources in the CDA said that the lists are being compiled and the names of the concerned CDA officials will be submitted to the FIA in the coming days.

The letter said the agency is conducting a high-profile enquiry against officers and officials who are involved in providing assistance to the illegal occupants in the ICT. The FIA has also asked about the details of efforts on part of CDA officials for dispossession of land from illegal occupants during the aforesaid period. Separately, the CDA has removed illegally installed billboards, advertisement boards from the city. Especially constituted task force of Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) is conducting operations across the city. The DMA task force removed eight billboards and 20 directional board installed illegally along Islamabad Expressway. During another operation, DMA also removed number of billboards of different sizes installed illegally along the Kashmir Highway.

Moreover, unauthorised streamers/political banners installed illegally in Markaz F-6, F-7, F-8, F-10, F-11, I-8, I-9, Blue Area and along the Park Road and IJ Principal Road were removed. The force also took action against unhygienic milk sellers in the city. Nine milk canes were confiscated from illegal milk vendors in the drive, said CDA officials yesterday. According to an intelligence report, a copy of which is available with The Nation, the illegal occupants are getting active support of a trade union leader and the corrupt officials of the CDA.

Akram Masih Gill Colony at H-9 sector of Islamabad was temporarily established in 2009 with about 300 families in 700 tents to accommodate Christian affectees of Rawal Dam. However, now it has swelled to a full-fledged Katchi Abadi (slum) with about 3,000 residents living in around 700-800 concrete block houses spreading over more than 200 kanals of land. The dwellers have also established two churches over there and 10-12 cattle pens. The cattle pen business is also being run in collusion with some corrupt CDA officials with active support of a CDA Union leader Ch Yaseen. Reportedly, two of these pens are owned by the CDA employees, namely Asif and Asim. The CDA spokesman was not available for comments despite repeated attempts made by this correspondent.