The apex court Thursday asked the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to submit a compliance report after getting government offices vacated from residential areas of Islamabad. A three-member bench led by Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh resumed hearing of the petition filed by a private company, Bridge Factor, against the Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict on commercial use of residential areas in various sectors of Islamabad.
During the course of proceedings, counsel for the CDA Shahid Hamid submitted a list of 45 houses which are being used as government offices in residential areas in Islamabad. These offices include Ministry of Information, Ministry of Petroleum, Federal Board of Revenue, NADRA offices, Pakistan Post, Ministry of Law, Pakistan Railways and Anti Narcotics.
The bench was apprised that CDA officials were not allowed to enter in as many as 14 offices which are under government control whereas a list of 44 houses situated in residential areas and being used by foreign missions, embassies and international non-government organisations (NGOs) was also submitted. The report revealed that plots have been allotted to a number of these foreign missions in the Diplomatic Enclave but they are still operating in residential areas.
However, no plots were allotted for official residences of Cuban and Yemen ambassadors in the Enclave so both envoys continued residing in the city's residential areas. The report further disclosed that embassies of South Africa, Turkmenistan Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam and Algeria are operating from residential units as no lands have been allotted to them.
Shahid Hamid informed the bench that notices have been issued to the owners of units who rented their properties to diplomatic missions besides putting the matter before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Representing some petitioners in the matter Aslam khaki pleaded that main road has been completely blocked due to the security provided to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Headquarters in G-Sector of the Islamabad. Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman submitted that Prime Minister has given deadline of May 31 for vacating the government offices situated in residential areas. Hearing of the matter was adjourned till first week of June.
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