IHC Orders De-Sealing of KP House in Islamabad Following CDA Action

Islamabad—The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the de-sealing of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) House in the federal capital, just two days after it was sealed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

The order was issued by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq during the hearing of a petition filed by the KP government challenging the sealing of the property.

Addressing the CDA’s legal counsel, Justice Farooq stated that while the authority has the right to issue notices to seal properties in accordance with the law, it should not appear to be targeting specific individuals or entities. “Don’t make it seem like you are targeting someone,” he remarked.

During the hearing, the CDA’s lawyer argued that illegal construction had been carried out on the KP House premises and that dues had been pending since 2014, when the first notice was issued to the KP administration. The lawyer also noted that the lease for the property had expired in 2014.

Chief Justice Farooq questioned the timing of the CDA’s actions, asking, “When did CDA issue notices?” He emphasized that proper notice should have been given before sealing the property. The judge went on to criticize the sealing of the provincial house, calling it “shameless.”

A day earlier, the KP government had filed a plea in response to the CDA’s sealing of the provincial house, leading to the court’s intervention.