ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority is facing mounting criticism over alleged selective enforcement in its ongoing anti encroachment campaign, with officials accused of targeting vulnerable communities while ignoring violations by elite institutions in the capital.
The controversy comes as CDA teams intensify operations against slums, small vendors and long settled villagers on acquired land following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. However, insiders and observers claim the crackdown lacks uniformity and fairness.
Serious questions have been raised over two prominent clubs in Islamabad that are reportedly occupying large tracts of state land. Documents indicate that the Islamabad Club has allegedly encroached upon more than 50 kanal of CDA land and also owes hundreds of millions in unpaid ground rent.
In another case, the Gun and Country Club is operating on a vast area without formal allotment or lease documentation, with land demarcation still pending. Despite repeated audit observations and official correspondence, no decisive enforcement action has been taken against these entities.
Critics argue that such inaction undermines the credibility of the anti encroachment drive and creates a perception of double standards. Officials within the system have also called for equal accountability, insisting that state land must be reclaimed regardless of who occupies it.
The CDA, however, has rejected allegations of bias, maintaining that operations are conducted across the board. As scrutiny intensifies, pressure is building on authorities to demonstrate transparent enforcement and ensure that the rule of law applies equally to both the powerful and the powerless.
