Verdict reserved on PTI's plea against sealing of party secretariat

PTI counsel alleged CDA of fraud over not mentioning all notices issued in the record

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) reserved on Monday verdict on PTI’s petition against sealing of the party central secretariat by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

Justice Thaman Rifat Imtiaz presided over the case. PTI lawyers Shoaib Shaheen and Umair Baloch, while Hafiz Arafat on behalf of CDA and state counsel Malik Abdul Rehman from the district administration appeared before the court.

Shaheen argued that CDA included all the notices in their record but did not mention the current notice. Alleging CDA of fraud, Shaheen stated that CDA did not send the notices to PTI but to the land owner Sartaj Ali.

CDA lawyer took the stand that PTI accepted buying commercial land alleging party to use the land for political use. He added that people living around were being affected and PTI had illegaly constructed a floor on the land which was against the permission granted.

The court inquired about the receiver of the notice if the land was rented remarking “Why doesn't CDA issue notices to owner and tenant on such matters to settle the issue at once.”

Following these remarks, the court reserved verdict on PTI's plea.

On May 24, CDA sealed the PTI Central Secretariat located in Sector G-84 of the federal capital for violating building by-laws as part of its crackdown on illegal constructions and encroachments.

The illegal constructions at the PTI Secretariat were demolished with a heavy contingent of police present outside its premises.

An additional floor was also constructed on the plot in violation of the building by-laws. The operation led to a confrontation between PTI activists and the police. PTI Islamabad President Aamir Mughal was arrested during the clash.

According to a statement issued by the CDA, several warnings and notices were issued to the plot owner over the past few years. “Notices were sent on November 19, 2020, February 22, 2021, and June 14, 2022, followed by a show-cause notice on September 4, 2023. Despite these warnings, compliance was not achieved, prompting the CDA to issue a sealing order on May 10, 2024.”