IHC extends ban on tree cutting in Islamabad till Feb 13

The Islamabad High Court on Monday extended its injunction stopping the cutting of trees in the federal capital, adjourning the case until February 13.

The court had on January 15 ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to immediately halt tree cutting in Islamabad while hearing a petition filed by Muhammad Naveed Ahmed, who challenged what he described as illegal felling in the city.

During Monday’s proceedings, CDA lawyer Aamir Latif Gul told the court that the trees were removed to make way for a monument of the Ma’araka-e-Haq.

Justice Khadem Hussain Soomro questioned the justification and underscored the importance of preserving greenery. “Sir, even in London, trees over 500 years old are still standing,” he remarked.

The judge said the court could not hear the case in detail due to time constraints and asked how many similar cases were pending. The lawyer replied that three cases related to tree cutting were currently under review.

Read: Islamabad's forests under assault

Justice Soomro directed that all such cases be taken up on the next date, extended the injunction against tree cutting and adjourned the hearing until February 13.

At the earlier hearing on January 15, the petitioner’s counsel, Mudassar Latif Abbasi, argued that trees were being cut in violation of existing laws, causing environmental degradation and breaching the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act.

The court had summoned the assistant attorney general present in the courtroom, sought an explanation for the felling and ordered the CDA to submit a detailed report. It also restrained the authority from carrying out further tree cutting until the next hearing.

Notices were issued to the CDA, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Climate Change, directing them to submit para-wise replies along with a comprehensive report.

The court action follows growing public concern over large-scale tree removal in Islamabad. Interior Minister Tallal Chaudhry told the National Assembly that 29,115 trees had been removed, adding that more than 40,000 trees measuring eight to ten feet had been planted, with another 60,000 planned for plantation on March 30, subject to favourable weather.

Read more: Why does Islamabad hate trees?

The CDA has said only paper mulberry trees were removed, citing their role in causing severe pollen allergies.

However, the scale and pace of the cutting have triggered public outrage, with many residents questioning whether Islamabad’s natural heritage is being compromised in the name of public health. Images of cleared areas circulated widely on social media, prompting calls for greater transparency.

Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik has said the removal of paper mulberry trees was carried out under Supreme Court orders issued in 2023. He described the species as invasive and non-indigenous, linking it to allergies and deaths among chronic asthma patients.

Environmental groups dispute the official position. A report by WWF-Pakistan said recent tree removal and land clearing in the capital went beyond eliminating allergenic species and was also driven by unchecked infrastructure development.