Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed the Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) to resolve a six-decade-old dispute involving allotment and subsequent cancellation of an alternative plot to an elderly citizen.
Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas passed the directions while hearing a petition filed by senior citizen Muhammad Murtaza. Barrister Adil Aziz Qazi and other counsel appeared on behalf of the petitioner, while CDA Member Estate represented the authority.
The court expressed serious displeasure over the absence of the CDA chairman despite being summoned in person and asked where he was.
The Member Estate told the court that the chairman could not appear and he had come on his behalf.
Justice Minhas observed that the CDA chairman had been summoned in person and directed the official to tell him to appear before the court immediately, wherever he was.
Later, CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf appeared before the court pursuant to the court’s direction.
The chairman explained that he could not attend earlier because of a security-related meeting.
Justice Inaam remarked that the case dated back to 1966 and questioned why the petitioner had still not received his plot.
It noted that the petitioner’s father had owned the land and the elderly petitioner was now pursuing the matter.
The chairman told the court that resolving the matter was his responsibility and said he had recently started meeting citizens to address their grievances.
Justice Inaam observed that the petitioner’s case concerned the land of this country and that its owners should be treated with respect.
The court questioned the practice of allotting plots to affectees and subsequently cancelling them.
He remarked that roads, bridges or sectors could not be considered more important than compensating affected persons and stressed that compensation should be paid first.
The court also suggested that the CDA establish a dedicated cell for affectees to identify and address their issues.
CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf assured the court that the petitioner’s matter would be resolved immediately and asked him to approach the authority.
The court directed the petitioner to meet the CDA authorities and kept the petition pending, adjourning the hearing until next week.
The CDA had acquired the petitioner’s family land in 1966 at the time of establishment of the federal capital. An alternative plot was allotted to the citizen after around 60 years but was subsequently cancelled, which the elderly petitioner has challenged before the IHC.