On Thursday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed reopening the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in the federal capital, which the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had sealed two days prior. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued this order during a plea hearing filed by the KP government.
Justice Farooq cautioned the CDA’s lawyer, stating that while the authority has the right to issue sealing notices as per the law, it should not appear to target specific parties. During the hearing, the CDA’s lawyer argued that the property had undergone illegal construction and that some financial dues from 2014 were still outstanding.
The lawyer also mentioned that the property’s lease had expired in 2014. Chief Justice Farooq inquired about issuing notices before the sealing, emphasizing the importance of procedural adherence. He remarked on the impropriety of sealing a provincial house.
The KP government had filed a plea against the sealing just a day before, arguing that the action was “illegal.” This plea came after the Peshawar High Court directed them to address their grievances to the IHC, deeming it the appropriate forum.
In its petition, the KP government sought a declaration that both the sealing of the house and the custody of its vehicles were unlawful and requested the property be reopened. The issue escalated after the CDA sealed the KP House on Monday, citing building by-law violations. A notice on the main gate, placed by a CDA team led by Special Magistrate Muhammad Asif, declared the premises sealed due to these infractions.
Read: CDA Seals KP House in Islamabad Over Regulatory Violations
