Islamabad - The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Tuesday demolished the rest houses and restaurants in posh F-6 sector, which were frequented by the glitterati of Islamabad.
In its drive against illegal commercial use of residential houses, the civic agency used heavy machinery and bulldozed the entry gate of house number 1 in F-6 that houses Islamabad’s famous Kheva Restaurant owned by Attique Khattak, son of sitting PTI MNA Nafeesa Khattak.
“I wonder as to why CDA takes action against small restaurants when the civic agency has failed to reserve public utility places in residential sectors? How will the CDA take action against private schools running in residential houses where more than 250,000 students are enrolled,” Attique Khattak told The Nation.
The demolition squad of CDA also took action against Kuch Khaas Restaurant situated at house number 64 in F-6/3 followed by Vestro Club located at College Road, disconnecting the access roads with bulldozers.
A boutique opened in House No. 16, two guest houses being operated in house No. 12 and 24, Avari Guest House opened in house No. 2, Computer Office opened in house number 20 and Artec Office being operated in house number 4 situated in F-6/1 have also been closed / blocked, while signboards and other illegal structures have been removed.
Some owners of the restaurants and guesthouses have objected over the sudden operation against their business outlets that, according to them, had been established in 1980s. They argued that the civic agency should have arranged meeting of the stakeholders before taking action and should have announced proper policy for commercialisation of residential houses.
Owner of a restaurant told this reporter that ‘plaza mafia’ was behind the whole drive as they wanted business outlets running in residential areas to be shifted to commercial plazas in the federal capital.
Similarly, a special team of Enforcement Directorate has also taken action against encroachments in sectors I-9, I-8 and G-13. During the operation two illegally constructed structures in I-9/1 and one in G-13 were demolished.
Encroachments from footpaths and green belts near Aziz Market in sector I-9/1 and Abu Harera Market, sector I-8/2, were also removed and two trucks of material have also been confiscated.
A statement issued by CDA said that the agency would continue with its drive against illegal use of residential areas for commercial purposes. “The operation will continue until the residential areas are purged of all kinds of commercial activities,” an official involved in the drive said.
The statement added that Chairman CDA Maroof Afzal had expressed his satisfaction over the operation against the nonconforming use of land by the concerned formations of the authority and said that CDA would continue discouraging the violation of the agency’s building bylaws. He said that CDA would not allow any business activity in the residential units of the federal capital, adding that the civic authority would continue its operations against nonconforming use of land in the residential areas without any fear or favour.