Authorities asleep over Embassies' encroachments
ISLAMABAD: A number of foreign embassies have encroached upon public land in the residential areas of the federal capital, violating the bye laws of the Capital Development Authority, which is criminally silent on the issue. Although foreign missions have been allotted the entire sector of G-5, known as the 'Diplomatic Enclave' to construct their embassies, a number have established their offices outside the designated area over various pretexts.
“I have been appointed at this building for last six to eight months. We are here on a temporary basis as our new building in the diplomatic area is under construction”, said a security guard at the Kuwaiti Embassy in sector F-7 which has barricaded the surrounding area including the public footpath.
The state Immunity Ordinance 1981 clearly mentions that according to Section 86-A (1) c, a suit may lie against the diplomatic agent if he “indulges in any professional or commercial activity exercised by the diplomatic agent in Pakistan outside his official’s functions”.
The city's residential areas of F-6, F-7, F-8 and G-6 are replete with offices and houses of diplomatic missions which can be recognized by their grotesque high concrete walls and barbed wire fences which are a hindrance to pedestrians as they are located outside the respective compounds.
“We have placed the barricades here for our safety. I know neither about any order given by IHC about this sort of encroachment, nor any CDA official has arrived here yet to inspect us”, said a security person at the Portuguese embassy while pointing at the barricades placed on the footpath outside their boundary wall.
The Spokesman also witnessed barricades and concrete walls constructed at the footpaths by the embassies of Greece and Czech Republic respectively. “We have arranged the barricades here for our safety. Previously these were partially covering the road in front of the embassy, but later we removed the obstacles as Islamabad High Court ordered”, said a person at Greek Embassy.
None of the concerned authorities were ready to own the issue of encroachments and shifted the blame to other officials.
Absolving the CDA of being responsible for checking encroachments, spokesperson Ramzan Sajid said “the Foreign Office is the authority that handles the issues related to the diplomatic offices and it reviews the allotments in diplomatic enclave".
“We are also inconvenienced with the illegal construction of the embassies but we are waiting for court orders as we were given in the past to remove these sorts of encroachments. But barricades' removal does not come under our purview and should be tackled by the Islamabad Capital Territory administration”, he added.
Although the Foreign Office acknowledged being responsible for security issues of the embassies, it claimed that the encroachments fall under the purview of CDA and it should check whether any rules are being broken.
When contacted, An authorized person from Czech Republic embassy told the spokesman that, “We are officially allowed by the Foreign Office to place barricades and security arrangements outside their territory and there is nothing illegal in it”, while on the other hand, an authority from Omani embassy said It is the Islamabad Police who has installed the barricade and they have no connections with the its placement.
“I have been appointed at this building for last six to eight months. We are here on a temporary basis as our new building in the diplomatic area is under construction”, said a security guard at the Kuwaiti Embassy in sector F-7 which has barricaded the surrounding area including the public footpath.
The state Immunity Ordinance 1981 clearly mentions that according to Section 86-A (1) c, a suit may lie against the diplomatic agent if he “indulges in any professional or commercial activity exercised by the diplomatic agent in Pakistan outside his official’s functions”.
The city's residential areas of F-6, F-7, F-8 and G-6 are replete with offices and houses of diplomatic missions which can be recognized by their grotesque high concrete walls and barbed wire fences which are a hindrance to pedestrians as they are located outside the respective compounds.
“We have placed the barricades here for our safety. I know neither about any order given by IHC about this sort of encroachment, nor any CDA official has arrived here yet to inspect us”, said a security person at the Portuguese embassy while pointing at the barricades placed on the footpath outside their boundary wall.
The Spokesman also witnessed barricades and concrete walls constructed at the footpaths by the embassies of Greece and Czech Republic respectively. “We have arranged the barricades here for our safety. Previously these were partially covering the road in front of the embassy, but later we removed the obstacles as Islamabad High Court ordered”, said a person at Greek Embassy.
None of the concerned authorities were ready to own the issue of encroachments and shifted the blame to other officials.
Absolving the CDA of being responsible for checking encroachments, spokesperson Ramzan Sajid said “the Foreign Office is the authority that handles the issues related to the diplomatic offices and it reviews the allotments in diplomatic enclave".
“We are also inconvenienced with the illegal construction of the embassies but we are waiting for court orders as we were given in the past to remove these sorts of encroachments. But barricades' removal does not come under our purview and should be tackled by the Islamabad Capital Territory administration”, he added.
Although the Foreign Office acknowledged being responsible for security issues of the embassies, it claimed that the encroachments fall under the purview of CDA and it should check whether any rules are being broken.
When contacted, An authorized person from Czech Republic embassy told the spokesman that, “We are officially allowed by the Foreign Office to place barricades and security arrangements outside their territory and there is nothing illegal in it”, while on the other hand, an authority from Omani embassy said It is the Islamabad Police who has installed the barricade and they have no connections with the its placement.
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