Parliament Lodges | Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: In a case involving the multi-billion-rupee public project of Parliament Lodges extension that has remained unfinished for nearly 15 years, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Saturday mounted an attack on the arbitration award of over Rs643 million in favour of the contractor, alleging that the award was the product of “legal misconduct”, jurisdictional overreach and a complete disregard of contractual obligations. The arguments were concluded before Additional District Judge (West) Amir Zia, who is hearing the CDA’s appeal against an earlier judgement. The matter has now been adjourned until Sept 19. Appearing for the CDA, Advocate Kashif Ali Malik argued that the case illustrated how “the victim has been turned into the accused”, with a public authority allegedly being directed to compensate a contractor whose project, according to the CDA, still stands incomplete years after its contractual completion date. The dispute concerns construction of 104 family suites for members of the parliam...

ISLAMABAD: Senate Deputy Chairman Syedal Khan Nasar on Monday took notice of security lapses and poor facilities at the Parliament Lodges, summoning the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and security officials and ordering a comprehensive report within three days. Parliament Lodges house members of the National Assembly and Senate in the capital. Security and maintenance issues have been a recurring issue at the lodges. Chairing an emergency meeting at Parliament House, Nasar expressed displeasure over the unauthorised entry of unrelated persons in the Parliament Lodges and termed the security flaws a “serious threat”. He directed authorities to submit details of all complaints received at the lodges and the subsequent action taken. The deputy chairman also raised questions over delays in renovation and repair work, and expressed dismay at the poor condition of lifts. Citing his own experience of getting stuck in a lift, he called such incidents an “administrative failure”. Lack of progress despite repeated...

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the site designated for the headquarters of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and inspected ongoing construction work at the Parliament Lodges.