MNAs term CDA action against kiosks anti-poor

Islamabad
Members of the National Assembly on Tuesday condemned the demolition and cancellation of a large number of kiosks in the federal capital by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), terming the crackdown an anti-poor step on part of the civic body.
On demand of the parliamentarians, NA Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi directed for formation of a 10-member committee through a motion to look into the issue and submit a report on the floor of the house within two weeks.
The mandate of the committee would be to recommend for rehabilitation and restoration of demolished and cancelled kiosks.
The issue of cancellation of nearly 500 kiosks by the CDA was raised in the house on a calling attention notice moved by Dr. Ibadullah, Mian Abdul Mannan, Abdul Majeed Khan Khanan Khail and Dr. Imran Khattak.
The deputy speaker also directed for restoration of cabins holding legal permission.
The movers of the calling attention notice were of the view that by cancelling the allotment of 485 kiosks which were allotted since 1967, the CDA had deprived poor families of their bread and butter.
They were also of the view that cabins were the outlets for the poor where they could eat food at affordable rates. “A labourer or a worker cannot afford to buy food for Rs500 to Rs1,000 from other hotels, whereas kiosks were providing them food at much cheaper rates,” Mian Abdul Mannan of PML-N said.
Imran Khattak of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) said the government instead ending poverty was following an anti-poor policy in the federal capital. “Why the CDA is not taking action against illegal plazas and buildings and teasing poor people,” he said, questioning whether the government wanted to close Islamabad for the poor.
Responding to the calling attention notice, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad said kiosks-holders were issued permission on temporary basis for a space of 100 square feet whereas most of them encroached areas around them.
The minister, however, did not oppose the suggestion to constitute a committee to look into the matter. He said the issue was also taken up in the Senate and its chairman had also formed a committee to look into the matter.
On a point of order, the opposition leader, Syed Khursheed Shah, stressed that the issue should be resolved on priority basis in the interest of poor people.