Al-Fatah sealed by LDA for voilating Building Bylaws
There is a lot of hue and cry going on in the media regarding motive behind sealing the famous Al-Fateh Store. Al-Fateh owner Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh has recently joined the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf and has termed it as political victimization as he was associated with ruling PML-N. Lahore development Authority has termed this activity as based on violation of building bylaws. Lahore development Authority initiated a drive against illegal constructions sometime and that got politicized and remained in abeyance for almost one year. On Friday they once again acted to raise another political controversy. Whole of the PTI is also crying foul.
While this is quite in culture of Pakistan to draw undeserved favors from administration based on their political affiliations. This Particular case highlights the dichotomy prevailing in the society. Both the parties are voicing their concerns based on malicious intentions. One party is LDA or the Government of Punjab. If they have taken this decision to take the political revenge from the persons who has parted ways with them then this is quite wrong. They should allow Institutions to work independently and strengthen them. Administrative decisions should not be taken on the basis of political affiliations.
The other party is PTI which is crying a foul and terming it as political revenge. Role of PTI is very special in cases like this. They claim that all the political parties operating in Pakistan are status quo parties and they are the ones who will change Pakistan. They claim that under their rule there will be no commission, kickbacks and nepotism. They have a vision strengthen the institutions instead of politicizing them. In my view this case of Al-Fatah closure merited discussion at some level before protesting. Al-Fatah administration is given a list of violations which forced LDA to take action. They can formulate a committee to evaluate those violations. If found correct they need to distance themselves from this controversy and if the Punjab Government is playing revenge tactics then they must protest strongly and take the concerned to the task. Blind support for the Al-Fatah owner even he is guilty will tarnish their image. This will give a strong message that PTI is clear about the type of change they are advocating and is doing sincere efforts.
What I dream in PTI’s Pakistan that there will be rule of law for every one without any discrimination and criminal will get punished according to the crime and not the social status.
Below is the list of violations handed down by LDA to Al-Fatah
- Illegal extension of basement under the front arcades to include extra space within the store. This is a non-compoundable illegality. The construction must be removed.
- Illegal extension/attachment of basement to two adjacent plazas, property 52 and 53, commercial zone, Gulberg III, against the sanctioned plan and without LDA approval.
- Building projected onto road side from first to top floor. The projection must be removed.
- Steel structure projection to create balcony and electric sub-station in rear balcony towards the road has to be removed.
- Arcades on front side raised which must be brought to normal level.
- Encroaching rear arcade by constructing wall and placing generator. Both must be removed.