Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to de-seal the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Central Secretariat.
IHC’s Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz heard the PTI’s plea challenging the CDA action to demolish part of the building for allegedly violating building bylaw.
“CDA may take action strictly in accordance with law in case of any non-conformity or violation of the applicable laws,” read the six-page order adding that the CDA did not issue a prior notice to the PTI before sealing its office.
The order also said that the sealing order was neither addressed nor copied to the petitioner let alone any evidence of service of the same.
As per the CDA officials, the plot, situated in Sector G-8/4, had been encroached upon and unauthorized constructions were erected.
The plot where the said building was situated has been allotted to a man named Sartaj Ali, the statement said, adding the land adjacent to the officer belonged to the state, which was also “encroached upon”.
The statement added that an additional storey in the building was also constructed in violation of bylaws.
Originally, the plot was allotted to an individual named Sartaj Ali, and PTI allegedly took over the land and built on it illegally.
The development comes after the Imran Khan-founded party on May 24 moved the IHC seeking its order to de-seal its central secretariat in the federal capital.
The CDA had demolished a portion of the PTI Central Secretariat over a “violation of building rules”, drawing strong condemnation from the former ruling party.
The CDA said that its anti-encroachment team launched an operation to eliminate illegal construction and encroachment.
In response, PTI secretary general, Omar Ayub Khan, filed the petition and made secretary of interior, chief commissioner, CDA chairman, and IG Islamabad parties in the case.
In his petition, the PTI leader said: “Neither any order nor any notice was ever served upon the petitioner, hence, the impugned act of the respondents is due to malafide intention, blackmailing, without due process of law and violation of principle of natural justice and also contrary to Article 4 and 10-A of the Constitution."