The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the immediate de-sealing of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central office. Justice Saman Rifat Imtiaz delivered the reserved verdict, accepting PTI's plea against the Capital Development Authority's (CDA) action to seal the office.
The court's decision highlighted procedural lapses on the part of the CDA. According to the court, the CDA failed to provide any satisfactory explanation as to why notices and show-cause notices continued to be sent to the office's previous owner throughout 2022 and 2023. The absence of receipts confirming the delivery of these notices further weakened the CDA's position.
The CDA's practice of maintaining a register was not enough proof of notice delivery, the court maintained. No prior notice was issued before the sealing order was executed on May 23, which was ostensibly based on alleged illegal construction.
Also Read: PTI central secretariat sealed
In its ruling, the court underscored the lack of substantial evidence and procedural correctness from the CDA, thus ordering the immediate de-sealing of PTI's head office.
On May 23, in a crackdown on illegal constructions and encroachments, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) sealed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Secretariat. The operation, conducted in collaboration with the district administration, involved anti-encroachment teams equipped with heavy machinery deployed at the site, located in Sector G-84.
A heavy contingent of police force was also present outside the PTI Central Secretariat as the CDA initiated the action against unauthorised structures established by the political party. According to a CDA spokesperson, the plot in question was allotted to an individual, named Sartaj Ali. However, violations of building by-laws, including the construction of an additional floor, were noted. The political party had also reportedly encroached on the adjacent land.
