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Thursday March 28, 2024

A case of violating CDA rules on residential areas

By Ahmad Noorani
April 21, 2016

ISLAMABAD: All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) leader Dr Amjad was running Shelter International and Musharraf Foundation in a rented portion of a G-6/4 house jointly owned by three sisters. 

After CDA started operation against illegal use of residential areas, like other organisations, these NGOs were also asked to vacate the house. The major activity of both these NGOs was to arrange some ‘parties’ on the premises. Even after CDA drive to get such property vacated, the rented portion was not fully vacated and possession was not given to the owners because some of the office equipment was still there. When after four months, Dr Amjad’s staff was contacted by owners on April 12 and was asked to pay outstanding rent and vacate the premises as any further use would have been considered a violation of CDA bylaws and Supreme Court orders. 

On April 14, Dr Amjad along with his guards reached the site. The demand of the owners for possession of the premises first changed into exchange of hot words and later turned into a scuffle. Media and police reached the spot. The parties went to police station where issue was amicably settled but the next day a press statement from Dr Amjad was published in media implying that there was some dispute between the owners of the property and that Brg (R) Ajaib and Col (R) Manzoor tried to occupy the house using armed guards and injured two persons accompanying him. The published news item quoted Dr Amjad as saying that he was a peaceful person. The news item even added that those who “try to occupy the house” apologised to him later on.

Brig (R) Ajaib and Col (R) Manzoor informed The News that the house was jointly owned by their wives and the wife of one Brig (R) Usman. It was given on rent to NGOs run by Dr Amjad under an agreement that all bylaws of CDA would be strictly adhered to.

The News verified that except ‘a portion of ground floor of the house’ rented to NGO named after General Musharraf, the whole building was in possession of Col (R) Manzoor, Brig (R) Ajaib and Brig (R) Usman. So no question arises that owners tried to occupy their own house. There is also no dispute of property among the owners. Babar Waseem who is one of the brothers of three sisters has also stated that there is no property dispute among the members of his family. According to the facts of the case revealed after police intervention, one of the three owners, Brig (R) Usman was in favour of continuation of rent agreement with Pervez Musharraf Foundation and Shelter International being run by Dr Amjad. Continuation of residential home on rent to NGOs was not possible after latest apex court orders. This point of disagreement was exploited by Dr Amjad who dubbed it a ‘property dispute’ to continue his possession of the house. The contract between the parties will come to an end on June 30, 2016.

However, Dr Amjad’s statement showed as if Brig (R) Ajaib and Col (R) Manzoor were some strangers and tried to occupy his house using armed guards whereas the documentary evidence establish that he himself came at the spot with armed men and later misguided media through his statement. ‘The News’ has also verified that NGOs run by Dr Amjad haven’t paid rent for the last four months. The issue could be settled at any forum but defaming respectable citizens and using media to make allegation of occupying a house using armed guards while being a tenant himself was incomprehensible. Majority of the organisations working in residential areas have been made to vacate the houses under their use. Any attempts to continue occupying residential house to run any NGOs is itself a violation of law and Supreme Court judgment.

In his statement to media, Dr Amjad stated that house was being used for welfare activities. He said that he is a peaceful citizen and would never indulge in any dispute.