THE Government surely deserves appreciation for transparent investigation into the mega scandal involving the fate of the iconic building known as One Constitution Avenue and accepting recommendations of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) about its conversion into a 5-Star hotel within months. Importantly, the JIT pinpointed gross irregularities and also named individuals as well as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for manipulating the auction process, causing harm to the exchequer as well.
The building was initially supposed to be a five-star hotel project; however, instead of functioning as a five-star hotel, it was converted into residential apartments and commercial areas. The Islamabad High Court’s order led to the mass evictions of residents in May, following which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a JIT to probe the matter. The recommendations of the JIT will undo a wrong-doing by influential officials as a process will be initiated for its conversion as a hotel. The Government has secured both physical and legal possession of the premises and the allottees will be refunded their investment with profit. Theoretically speaking, the worth of both land and the building has increased manifolds because of its ideal location and the Government should be able to realize much more than the compensation to be paid to the affected people. However, it all depends on transparency of the bidding process, which must not culminate into another scandal. The nature of the previous deal demands initiation of criminal proceedings against all those involved as mere black-listing and departmental actions would mean giving clean chit to manipulators of rules and regulations.
