ISLAMABAD: Chairman Capital Development Authority Farkhand Iqbal Thursday assured hundreds of protesting employees to cancel the allotment of 200 residential plots in the posh I-8 Sector to senior officers in a balloting ceremony held secretly, violating court orders.
Thousands of CDA employees gathered at the CDA headquarters on a protest call by the CDA Mazdoor Union and CDA Employees Federation and closed the office blocks to protest the allotment of plots to senior officers, including those on deputation.
According to the protestors, the venue of balloting was shifted twice from Convention Centre to Islamabad Club and later to PC Hotel Rawalpindi after the employees gathered at the Convention Centre to foil the attempt; however the officers managed to hold balloting.
The employees raised slogans against the double standards of allotting plots to officers but refusing the facility to low-grade employees on pretext of stay orders and matter being sub-judice in the Supreme Court.
Addressing a press conference, General Secretary CDA Mazdoor Union Chaudhry Yasin claimed the CDA authorities have not yet allotted 2000 approved plots to low-grade CDA employees.
He said the CDA officers on deputation serving in 17 to 20 scales, have violated the rulings of the Supreme Court of Pakistan as well as Islamabad High Court by getting 200 plots allotted worth billions of rupees.
He said this move had infuriated the low-scale employees who besieged the CDA headquarters in protest.
The General Secretary also thanked the Chairman for assuring to cancel the plots allotment to senior officers besides taking stern action against those who have set double standards for employees.
Talking to APP, General Secretary Employees Federation said they had demanded of the CDA chief either to cancel the balloting of plots for officers or extend the same facility to low-grade employees if it was not tantamount to contempt of court.
He quoted the chairman saying that any such act would be in violation of the court's directive and advised the employees to await the court's decision. (APP)