Influential continues to build more as SC hears Murree high-rise complex case

ISLAMABAD: While the Supreme Court is hearing a case of illegal high-rise building in Murree, influential politician and landowners, including a local Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, are still building multi-storey commercial and residential complexes in clear violation of the rules, playing havoc with the natural environment of the scenic valley.

According to metrological office the hill station Murree lies on dangerous fault lines. The high-rise concrete buildings can cause a major human tragedy in the event of a strong earthquake like that of 2005 which caused over 70,000 deaths. That is the reason the high-rise buildings in Murree are banned by the Tehsil Municipal Authority (TMA).

However, documents available with The News revealed that a top leader of PTI Sardar Saleem and his family have not only built dozens of multi-storey plazas in Bhurban area of Murree but also illegally occupied precious forest land to build an enviable property empire. These multi-storey plazas have neither any approved building map from Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA), nor any approval of construction, the documents revealed.

The construction of hundreds of apartments, in a small village, have not only completely changed the landscape of once picturesque village but also created a huge sanitation problem for the remaining residents of the area. Scores of villagers have approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Presidency and Chief Minister Punjab Secretariat but to no avail.

Unable to stop the invasion, dozens of aggrieved villagers have left the area and sold their land to the builders on throw-away price prompting even more constructions in the area.

“This is unbearable. The sewerage water from these plazas has not only created a strong stench but also affected the only girls’ school of the village which is located right below these plazas,” says a resident, Rashid Abbasi.

The land mafia is making the life hard for every local as the villagers want to live in privacy but their houses are completely exposed in front of high-rise buildings. “This is land-mafia’s technique of grabbing land of villagers. They surround villagers land with plaza’s forcing them to sell their land on nominal price to them,” he added.

Despite repeated complaints against these illegal high-rise buildings, the TMA administration has not taken any action. Due to poor sewerage system of these buildings, the scenic city’s water falls are being contaminated. The same family has built a commercial housing project naming Bhurban Continental Apartments.

Besides building illegal high-rise commercial plazas, these influential people have also illegally occupied three kanal precious land of the Forest Department in sub-division Sehrbagla area. According to a list issued by the Forest Department, a member of the same family Sardar Arshad has occupied three kanal forest lands to build a luxury house.

On May 18, 2017, the Municipal Committee sent an Istaghasa No 123/B1 for registration of an FIR against one Sardar Bilal, who is illegally constructing buildings in Murree. However, police did not register the FIR against these influentials.

Then again on October 31, 2017, the TMA wrote a memo to Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Murree, for registration of FIR against Sardar Bilal on account of illegal construction as well as the contempt of orders of the Supreme Court. However, no action has been taken so far against them.

When contacted, Murree Assistant Commissioner, Arifullah, admitted that so far the administration has not devised any strategy against these illegal plazas build in beautiful villages. However, he claimed that a survey being conducted. “We are surveying all such buildings and hearing their owners as per the Supreme Court’s directions,” Arifullah said.

He said the administration will devise a strategy after a verdict comes on this issue. “As of now, all such buildings are being documented,” the assistant commissioner added.

When contacted, Sardar Saleem said all his buildings are legal and built according to a decision of the high court. He said all his residential flats are as per the TMA Murree’s building regulations.When asked whether the TMA Murree allowed him to build six to seven-storey buildings in the earthquake prone area, he said TMA regulations does not apply in the rural areas. However, as per the TMA directions, one can build up to 60 feet high buildings and all my apartments are located on ground floor.

To a question about total number of residential flats he has built, Sardar Saleem replied he has built not more than 50 residential apartments. Whereas his brother claimed they have around 100 flats. He said he has done nothing wrong as all his commercial, residential buildings are located on their ancestral lands. Talking about occupation of forest land, Sardar Saleem replied not a single inch of forest land is occupied by him.

When asked about the sewerage water of the housing project which contaminating the entire village, Sardar said his housing project is entirely located in his own land whereas the village is far away from his plazas. However, on ground one can see plazas located in the heart of the village. Talking about the TMA FIR registered against him, he said this is a totally politically motivated.

When contacted, Murree Tehsil Municipal Officer Najeebullah said Sardar Saleem’s Bhurban Continental Apartments project is illegal and its height is above the maximum limit allowed by the TMA bylaws.

“We wanted to demolish the portion of the building having more than 60 feet height, but Sardar Saleem got stay order from the civil court.

We are waiting for the court order and the process of demolition would start once the court directs the Tehsil management.

The TMA already had registered an FIR against Sardar Saleem in violation of rules, but no action has been taken against him,” said the TMO.

He said the bylaws for residential, commercial buildings’ height were amended and enhanced up to 60 feet when Sardar Saleem was Tehsil Naib Nazim. This is a conflict of interest how one can approv his own project, the Murree TMO remarked.