ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday cancelled the licence recently awarded to a contractor by the civic agency to run a cattle market in the capital.
On September 18, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) auctioned the cattle market to Raja Brothers against a bid of Rs21 million. Raja Brothers — which also run a weekly cattle market in Taxila — reportedly started charging additional levies on animals brought to the market.
While entertaining a petition filed by local trader Muhammad Zafar, IHC judge Athar Minullah declared the auction process illegal after the CDA failed to produce any documents justifying the levy.
The petitioner’s counsel maintained that the contractor was charging Rs120 as “entry fee” on each goat and sheep and Rs200 on each head of cattle.
He said that besides the levy, the contractor was also collecting parking fees from motorcyclists and car owners visiting the market. The petitioner’s counsel said that the contractor demanded Rs300,000 from his client to set up a camp in the cattle market, which was unjustified and illegal.
CDA Municipal Administration Director Hamza Shafaqat failed to satisfy the court’s queries on the levy. The court directed him to immediately take action against the contractor for collecting fee from citizens.
The CDA was, in the meanwhile, also directed to make all arrangements at the cattle market to better facilitate shoppers. The court also said that no levy should be charged unless a notification was issued by a gazetted officer after completing the mandatory requirements.
The court also directed the CDA chairman and board members to submit replies in a week time to explain why the contractor was allowed to impose the illegal levy in the first place.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2014.