Former contractor claims the parking plaza was vacated despite a court stay order, questions hefty penalties, and calls for an impartial investigation into the dispute.
RAWALPINDI: The dispute over the Raja Bazaar Parking Plaza has intensified after the former contractor issued a detailed statement alleging that the facility was vacated despite a court-issued stay order, describing the action as contrary to legal procedures.
According to the contractor, an application has also been submitted to the relevant police station regarding the incident. He claimed he managed the parking plaza contract for nearly six years without leaving any outstanding government dues and regularly paid all installments and liabilities.
The contractor stated that while the original two-year contract was valued at Rs133 million, he later secured the contract for one year through an open bidding process worth Rs331 million, significantly increasing revenue for the department.
He further alleged that shortly after the appointment of the current director, a close relative of the director’s husband approached him with a proposal for a business partnership, claiming it would help him retain the contract in the future. The contractor claimed that after rejecting the proposal, he received a notice within days.
The former contractor also questioned a penalty notice exceeding Rs483 million, arguing that it was disproportionate to the Rs331 million contract value. He maintained that repeated closures due to lockdowns, law and order situations, protests, and other government restrictions caused substantial financial losses, for which he received neither compensation nor relief.
He has demanded a transparent investigation into the eviction, the alleged action despite the court stay order, and the penalties imposed.
No official response from the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) or other relevant authorities had been issued by the time this report was filed. Their version will be included once received.
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