ISLAMABAD: Legislatures, in a bid to put a stop to encroachments in the federal capital, have proposed amendments in the Capital Development Authority Ordinance1960 (XXIII of 1960) after they came to the conclusion that CDA, under prevailing regulations, was unable to tackle the issue as its own officials are apparently embroiled in the menace of land encroachment.

Member National Assembly Khurram Jahangir Wattoo has filed a bill to amend the CDA Ordinance that was adopted in 1960. If approved, the bill will be called CDA Act 2011 and shall come into force at once.

Whoever encroaches or unauthorisedly occupies or possesses, or causes unauthorised construction for any purpose on any property which vests in the authority, or in violation of any permission of the authority, or abets, being a person who is empowered to control such encroachments or unauthorised occupation or construction shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of five years and with fine which shall not be less than rupees one million or according to the quantum of loss caused to CDA, the new bill proposed.

It further states that the authority shall remove the encroachments on the expense of the person, which shall be deposited in the account of the authority through a duly issued challan for the purpose. Any person, so authorised by the authority, or having information of such encroachment, unauthorised occupation or possession, or unauthorised construction, may report to the office-in-charge of the concerned Police Station for necessary assistance, if needed. It shall be the duty of the person-in-charge to remove an encroachment, unauthorised occupation, possession or construction within fifteen days of his information. If a person-in-charge under sub section (4) fails to act, the authority shall take disciplinary action against such person and cost of removal of such encroachment shall be charged from his pay and allowances in addition to disciplinary proceedings under the rules. After three consecutive incidents of inaction on the part of the person-in-charge under sub section (4), such person shall be dismissed from service and shall be debarred from future employment under the law. Any person who habitually encroaches or causes unaurthorised occupation, possession or construction on land or space vesting in the authority shall be served a notice for cancellation of his allotment or lease, as the case may be, and thereafter such allotment or lease, as the case may be cancelled. The person against whom action shall be taken under sub-section (7) shall not be entitled for any allotment or lease by the CDA, as the case may be, for the lands, plots or other such facilities in future, recommend the proposed amendments.

An officer of CDA said on condition of anonymity that the bill was perfect and if it was passed by the parliament no one will ever dare to encroach the land in the future. But unfortunately there are so many sitting parliamentarians who are involved in land grabbing and encroachments and these black sheep in the parliament would create hurdles in the passage of the proposed bill, said the CDA official.

He said some politicians of Islamabad had been property dealers in the past and a man who had that kind of past could not go against the land mafia. CDA Officials are also involved in land grabbing.

Former CDA Deputy Director Land Zahid Bhatti was alleged to embezzle 7 billion rupees and was suspended over this charge. Former Director Land Asad ullah Faiz was also involved in land embezzlements.