Islamabad High Court has ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to de-seal the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Central Secretariat, providing significant relief to the former ruling party. The Islamabad High Court’s Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz issued a six-page written order on Tuesday.
The Islamabad High Court stated that the CDA could take action according to the law if there were any non-conformities or violations. This marks the second major relief for the party. On Monday, the Islamabad High Court annulled the convictions of PTI founder Imran Khan and Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case, which involved allegations of misusing a classified diplomatic document.
The order revealed that the CDA had issued notices to the previous owner in 2022 and 2023. However, the CDA did not provide explanations for sending these notices. The Islamabad High Court highlighted that there was no receipt of the notices on record. Moreover, the CDA had not issued prior notice to the PTI before sealing its office.
The Islamabad High Court order noted that the sealing directive was neither addressed nor copied to the petitioner. No evidence of the service of the notice was presented. The development came after PTI, founded by Imran Khan, moved the Islamabad High Court on May 24, seeking to de-seal its central secretariat in Islamabad.
The CDA had demolished a portion of the PTI Central Secretariat, citing a violation of building rules. This action drew strong condemnation from PTI. According to the CDA, its anti-encroachment team carried out an operation to eliminate illegal construction and encroachment.
In response, PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan filed a petition. He made the secretary of interior, the chief commissioner, the CDA chairman, and the IG Islamabad parties in the case. Omar Ayub Khan’s petition stated, “Neither any order nor any notice was ever served upon the petitioner. Hence, the impugned act of the respondents is due to malafide intention, blackmailing, without due process of law and violation of principle of natural justice and also contrary to Article 4 and 10-A of the Constitution.”
The Islamabad High Court’s decision to de-seal the PTI Central Secretariat is a significant development. It underscores the importance of lawful procedures and the protection of natural justice. This ruling provides a moment of respite for PTI amid ongoing legal challenges and highlights the court’s role in ensuring fairness and adherence to legal protocols.
