ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Capital Development Authority (CDA) has initiated action against Al-Mustafa Tower, located in Sector F-10, and an inquiry has been launched in this regard.
Sources in the CDA said the inquiry would determine the role of CDA officials and fix responsibility, if any. They said the civic agency recently received information that amenity spaces in the tower, such as the gym and open areas, had allegedly been sold out.
CDA officials said that in 2019, on the directions of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the CDA took over the project and started managing its affairs through a management committee.
“On the directions of the Islamabad High Court, CDA constituted a committee to manage the affairs of Al-Mustafa Tower. However, the committee became dysfunctional without any order from the competent authority, due to which the affairs of the building could not be managed properly. In the meantime, CDA received information that public amenity spaces had been illegally sold by the ex-allottee/builder and more than 320 families had been deprived of recreational facilities,” a CDA official said.
The official further said that taking notice of the issue, CDA Member Estate on Thursday directed the authority to take over the project once again in compliance with the IHC orders.
He said an inquiry committee had also been formed and, after approval from the competent authority, it was likely to begin its probe from Monday to determine negligence or alleged connivance of CDA officials, as amenity spaces in the tower had allegedly been sold after 2018.
“After the issue of One Constitution Avenue, the CDA management, backed by the Interior Minister, has decided to take action against all bigwigs. Soon, CDA will also form a committee to determine the role of its officials in the One Constitution Avenue project as well,” said another CDA official.
An official of the CDA’s Estate Wing told Dawn that while hearing the case regarding cancellation of the lease of the Al-Mustafa Tower plot over non-payment of premium, the IHC observed in its order dated Nov 8, 2019, passed in Writ Petition No. 4759/2018, that since the allotment of the plot stood cancelled, the property vested in the CDA and any sale, transfer or disposal of units in the building was to be regulated by the authority.
The official said the IHC had also directed the CDA to appoint an officer or committee to manage the building’s affairs. In the matter, the civil court later directed that third-party rights should not be created.
“In compliance with the directions of the IHC, CDA had constituted a committee to manage the affairs of Al-Mustafa Tower; however, the committee became dysfunctional without any order of the competent authority, due to which the affairs of the building could not be managed properly. In the meantime, allegedly, public amenity spaces had been illegally sold by the ex-allottee/builder, thus depriving 320 families of recreational facilities,” the official said.
He said the CDA management had decided to reactivate the committee to restart functioning in light of the IHC order, and it would manage the day-to-day affairs of Al-Mustafa Tower. However, it would not create third-party rights, as ordered by the Civil Court, Islamabad.
It was also decided that the Security Directorate would depute adequate security personnel to assist the committee/team during the operation.
Official sources said the CDA’s Law Wing had also been directed to diligently pursue the case in the civil court, informing it that the IHC had already ruled that the plot stood cancelled and the property vested in the CDA, and that any sale, transfer or disposal of units in the building was to be regulated by the authority.
