IHC orders de-sealing of K-P House

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has accepted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's plea against the sealing of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, declaring the Capital Development Authority's (CDA) action illegal. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued an order to de-seal the K-P House, stating that it had been unlawfully sealed without notice.

The court noted that the CDA could take action for lease violations, but emphasised that the CDA's lawyer failed to present a copy of the 2014 notice regarding the lease expiration. The CDA' counsel claimed that illegal constructions had been made at the K-P House and that there were outstanding dues. The court pointed out that the first notice was issued in 2014, but the CDA could not produce evidence of any notice prior to sealing the property.

The Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assured the court that matters regarding dues and the lease would be resolved. During the proceedings, Chief Justice Farooq remarked that sealing the house of a province is a matter of embarrassment and urged the CDA to act in accordance with the law without appearing to target anyone.

Following the court's directive, the CDA was ordered to issue instructions to the Building Department to de-seal the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House immediately.