Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the secretary interior and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to settle the compensation claims of all landowners affected by the latter’s land-acquisition drive within 90 days, according to news sources.
The court observed that the affectees of these compulsory acquisitions – initiated for the development of residential sectors decades ago – were subjected to economic and social displacement. The court ordered the departments to ‘generously and timely’ compensate the former landowners.
It observed that the compulsory acquisitions and the ensuing development of housing projects by the CDA and the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) has ‘benefited the privileged and ignored the low-income groups of the community’.
As per reports, the court had received petitions from affectees within 1,400 sq miles of Islamabad Capital Territory for compensation of their properties.
Previously, the IHC had constituted a commission on September 19 in its bid to compensate these affectees. It also prohibited the CDA and the FGEHF from allotting plots outside auctions until these claims of longstanding compensations were settled.
The next hearing on this matter has been scheduled for January 15.
Hazafa reveres the art of writing and has been turned into a property enthusiast by profession. Her daily survival kit includes; tea, coffee, keyboard and paperbacks.
