CDA Seals Azam Swati's Islamabad Farmhouse Over Building Violations

CDA Seals Azam Swati's Islamabad Farmhouse Over Building Violations
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Saturday sealed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Swati's farmhouse in Islamabad over alleged building law violations.

Azam Swati, who was arrested last month for a second time this year for 'highly obnoxious and objectionable' tweets regarding the military, was in police custody in Quetta where at least five FIRs were registered against him until yesterday, when they were quashed. Then the Sindh police took him into their custody regarding FIRs registered in Sindh.

"The basement was not approved in the building plan," CDA officials said, noting that the first notice regarding the basement was given to Swati in 2016. The official said that another reminder was sent to the senator in 2018, when a survey was conducted on the farmhouse.

The farmhouse was transferred to Swati's wife's name in 2014, and the building plan was approved in 2015.

"There was a deviation from the approved building plan as servant quarter/Kitchen, office block and tractor trolley shed are not constructed. The observations regarding violations were separately conveyed on 29-11-2018."

The CDA official said that in light of these irregularities, a show-cause notice was issued to Swati on November 4, 2022. The notice asked Swati to 'show sufficient cause within seven days as to why such violations have not been removed and why the premises may not be sealed off until compliance of the by-laws or removal of the same by the authority at the risk and cost beside imposing a penalty'.

A final notification was sent on November 16, with the warning that if the violations were not rectified within seven days, the farmhouse would be sealed.