CDA headquarters turn into battlefield

Property dealers wanted to register protest against corrupt officials for non-issuance

of NDC for transfer of plots in sector I-15

Islamabad

The headquarters of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday turned into battlefield between property dealers, security guards of CDA and Islamabad Police.

The tense situation led to baton-charge on property dealers and arrest of over two dozen protesters who later were released following intervention of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Mian Muhammad Aslam.

The members of Islamabad Estate Agents Association led by its President Abdul Rauf Chaudhry wanted to register their protest against corrupt officials for non issuance of No Demand Certificate (NDC) for transfer of plots in sector I-15 and surcharge on development charges but delay in start of development work in different residential sectors.

A CDA officer said the property dealers wanted the civic body not to charge development charges for Sector I-15. “Some big property dealers have purchased a number of plots after paying advance money and now they are disturbed over development charges,” he said adding how they could develop sector with collecting development charges.

A representative of estate agents said the untoward situation could have been averted had the CDA management given them opportunity to meet them.

The property dealers who were denied entry into premises of the CDA headquarters, jumped over the main gate and indulged in physical scuffle with security guards.

Further breaching the security, around 50 protesters reached in front of office of the CDA chairman located on the first floor and started sloganeering against the civic body’s officials. CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal was also present in his office at that time.

They also confronted a senior police officer Rizwan Gondal and had exchange of harsh words with him.

On that the police officer with permission of the CDA management called police to control the situation.

The police personnel resorted to baton-charge on property dealers who were dragged and picked up and thrown in trucks and later locked up in a police station.

The sources said the CDA’s security directorate also sought registration of FIR against protesters and their dealers. However, the protesters were released when JI leader Mian Muhammad Aslam and a senior officer mediated between estate agents and CDA management.

Mian Aslam asked the CDA management to resolve justified demands of estate agents and remove their grievances.

A senior officer of CDA who was also involved in mediation, said that consultation process with estate agents would continue.

It may be pointed out here that the CDA management had also imposed ban on property dealers’ entry in premises of estate management and land directorates.