ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been asked by a luxury hotel administration to confirm that it will assume the security risk for high profile guests including heads of the states who normally stay at the hotel, in case the authority is adamant to remove the same.
Earlier, the enforcement directorate of the CDA, through a letter, had asked the management of Serena Hotel to remove heavy barriers from the CDA land around the hotel’s premises. According to the CDA, “The land in question is greatly trespassed by the hotel management without obtaining any approval/consent of the authority. Over and above, the amount of obstruction and nuisance for the neighbouring offices, agencies, organisations in the environs is mounting with every passing day.” The letter, a copy of which is exclusively available with this scribe, told the hotel management that the ministry of foreign affairs and the district magistrate had also expressed great concern over this prevailing predicament, causing needless botheration to the senior officers/officials of the ministry/ division. The CDA had directed the hotel management to remove illegally erected barriers and equipment from CDA land forthwith, opening entire means of access completely hurdle-free, with a warning that failing to which the authority shall undertake forceful action under judicial/police cover to remove the encroachments.
However, the hotel management did not agree to the notion of the CDA rather, it contested the interpretation of ‘encroachment obstruction and nuisance’ by the CDA. In reply to the CDA concerns, the hotel management said in true sense those were the security measures taken to protect the lives of staff and hotel guests.
It further said, “We are spending huge amount of money on the security to ensure the safety of the guests including the heads of states and the other high-profile guests who are the guests of the government of Pakistan for which we are incurring on an average Rs 10 million per annum.” Also the blockers, barriers and under vehicle cameras are installed to check/deter the terrorists in view of the prevailing situation in the country, it added.
