CDA chief stops operation against kiosks in Islamabad

Islamabad
Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Maroof Afzal intervened late Saturday night to stop the operation for demolition of kiosks across the federal capital.
The CDA Enforcement Directorate staff demolished both legal and illegal kiosks (khokas) to snatch bread and butter from poor people. They demolished over 300 kiosks since the arrest of 11 officers of the CDA by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for their alleged involvement in the expansion of H-9/H-10 ‘katchi abadi’. Two of the arrested officers, including Director Municipal Administration Captain (r) Shahbaz Tahir Nadeem and Director Enforcement Azhar Khursheed, were later declared innocent during the three-day investigation and the court ordered their release on Saturday. Both officers spent a brief period with the CDA Enforcement Directorate.
Sources in the CDA told ‘The News’ that the operation against kiosks was not ordered by the top management rather it were some officers of the Enforcement Wing who themselves initiated the crackdown without seeking any approval. “These officers are on the FIA list, therefore, they started operation to avert any action on part of the investigation agency,” sources said adding that they are trying to save their skin.
Sources said that had the chairman not intervened, the federal capital could become a ‘no-go' area for the poor as kiosks were the only food outlets for them and provide food at cheaper rates.
The CDA chairman had directed the officials concerned that the operation should not be carried out in panic and they should differentiate between legal and illegal kiosks. He also directed the officials to collect outstanding licence fees due against them.
Sarfraz Abbasi, general secretary of the Islamabad Khoka Association, said that there is a CDA law for kiosks and most of the demolished ‘khokas’ were legal and being run by licence holders for over 10 years.
He said during meetings with the CDA management, it was agreed by the two sides that some kiosks cancelled by the authority would be relocated.
In the meantime, the residents of Islamabad have demanded of the CDA management to take action against shopkeepers of major shopping centres like F-6 and F-7 Marakiz and Aabapara Market who have raised encroachments in front of their shops by placing their goods in verandas instead displacing the poor ‘khoka’ owners.