Web Desk: CDA authorities in Pakistan’s capital have intensified a citywide campaign against illegal land use, dismantling structures and reclaiming public space in an operation led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
In the latest phase, officials razed a Frontier Corps (FC) camp office built along a green belt near the Marriott Hotel and Ayub Chowk, signaling that the drive extends to all entities regardless of affiliation. The campaign is being carried out uniformly across Islamabad and will continue in the coming weeks.
Naqvi, who supervised the operation, said enforcement agencies were acting without external pressure. He added that the government has adopted a zero-tolerance approach toward encroachments and land grabbing.
“No public or private body will be allowed to occupy state land unlawfully,” Naqvi said, while noting that authorities would arrange a lawful alternate site for the displaced FC camp.
Officials say the initiative aims to return Islamabad to its original planned condition by removing unauthorised structures. The chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) was present during the latest operation, underscoring institutional backing for the campaign.
Meanwhile, the operation follows an earlier large-scale effort in Noorpur Shahan, where authorities reclaimed vast tracts of land after decades of illegal occupation and commercial misuse.
According to officials, around 300 acres of land half of a 600-acre encroached zone have been recovered so far. More than 3,500 illegal structures were identified during the operation, many of which had been used for unauthorised businesses, rentals and land sales.
Authorities said the land had originally been acquired between 1961 and 1964, with compensation paid to affected residents at the time. They added that all legal claims had been settled decades ago.
Officials pointed to a 2011 Supreme Court suo motu case, which affirmed that once land is acquired, it fully belongs to the state and should not be protected if encroached upon.
They also emphasised that due process was followed before initiating demolitions. Notices were issued, claims were invited, and hearings conducted before a final order was issued on January 19, 2026. The decision was not challenged in appeals, officials said.
The operation unfolded over four months, from November 2025 to April 2026, in multiple phases. Residents were given advance notice and time to remove belongings and dismantle structures.
Field reports suggest many occupants vacated voluntarily, reflecting what authorities described as a phased and measured approach.
At the same time, law enforcement agencies have registered cases against individuals involved in illegal occupation and profiteering.
Authorities clarified that the Model Village area, established in 1985, was not targeted. They said the operation focused solely on unlawful encroachments and did not affect legally recognised settlements.
Officials reiterated that the campaign would continue until all illegal occupations are removed from the capital.
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