ISLAMABAD: The actual owners of the plots, from which slums were razed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Sector I-11, have become party to the case against illegal slums and are demanding immediate removal of illegal structures built on their land.

An application in this regard was filed on Tuesday, strengthening the case against the slum dwellers.

According to the petition, some 450 houses have been illegally built on the land in question.

The petitioners are seeking possession of the land with all utility services admissible under the rules.

On Wednesday, when Justice Siddiqui resumed hearing the case, the interior secretary, the Islamabad chief commissioner, chairman CDA and the capital police chief were present in the courtroom alongside Additional Attorney General (AAG) Tariq Mehmood Khokhar, at the judge’s orders.

AAG Khokhar also submitted a progress report regarding the ongoing operation against slums.

Justice Siddiqui had directed the interior ministry and the CDA on February 8 to remove all illegal slums inside the federal capital within a month and asked them to submit periodic progress report.

Farrukh Dall, an advocate and local leader of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), who had filed a petition on behalf of the slum residents last week, contended that in the past, the CDA used to provide alternative plots to resettle slum dwellers who were displaced. This time, however, he said they had adopted a different strategy.

“The authority is evicting them and demolishing their houses with the help of district administration and police, which is against the law and contrary to basic human rights,” he said.

The lawyer, however, was left speechless when Justice Siddiqui asked him to furnish documents legitimising their continued occupancy of the land.

“Just show me any single document, permission or licence which legitimises their living in these illegal slums,” the judge asked.

“What is the fault of those lawful allottees that paid the cost of the land and development charges to CDA 30 years ago, but are still awaiting possession of the plots,” he asked.

In response to another petition filed by Khawaja Manzoor Ahmed on behalf of the allottees of Sector I-11 and I/11-2, Justice Siddiqui said: “Illegal possession cannot be legalised even after the lapse of a thousand years”.

The CDA began allotting these plots to buyers and locals who purchased them in 1989. However, due to the illegal construction of slums on the land, it could never get around to developing the land.

Adjourning the case for next week, the court also directed the interior secretary to supervise the process for the removal of illegal slums and seek reports from the CDA, district administration and the police on a daily basis.