IHC orders CDA to address traders' issues

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the authorities including the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to address the problems of street-vendors and stallholders (rehribaan) in capital.

The court instructed the CDA, Municipal Corporation Islamabad (MCI), District Administration and ICT traffic police to resolve the issues of petitioners 'rehribaan' with coordination and informed it on next hearing.

A single member bench of IHC comprising Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan heard the case filed by vendors through Advocate Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha. At the outset of hearing, the MCI officials took the stance that the corporation only looks at their licenses. Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq remarked that this is not a legal matter but a matter of coordination. The CDA and the MCI should coordinate among themselves so that this problem does not arise.

Advocate Imaan Mazari argued that this is not an issue of traffic disruption. The court remarked that these vendors filed application to the DC office but it didn't take notice even after hearing them.