PM forms committee on One Constitution Avenue, halts action by authorities

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday set up a high-level committee to examine the dispute over One Constitution Avenue in Islamabad and directed that no action be taken by the authorities until a final decision is made.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the committee will be headed by Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. Its members include Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, as well as the cabinet secretary and the commerce secretary.

The statement said the committee has been assigned to review all dimensions of the matter and submit a detailed report to the prime minister within one week. That, during this period, all affected persons would be able to place their concerns before the committee, which would hear all parties and stakeholders without discrimination.

The Prime Minister’s Office further said the Islamabad administration and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) would not proceed with any action in the case until the prime minister takes a final decision.

Move follows lease dispute and evacuation reports

The committee was formed after reports surfaced on Thursday night that the CDA, accompanied by police, had reached the site to take possession of the 22-storey building after its lease was cancelled.

Police officials later said residents had been given time until Saturday midnight to vacate the premises. They added that most of the towers had already been emptied, while only a limited number of residents remained in a few apartments.

According to police officials, the remaining occupants were told to remove their belongings, and electricity was to be disconnected by 6pm.

IHC had dismissed petition

A day earlier, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sardar Sarfaraz Dogar had dismissed a petition filed by a private company challenging the cancellation of the building’s lease.

During the hearing, the CDA told the court that the developer had remained in payment default for more than two decades, which led to the cancellation of the lease.

As per a media report, sources within the CDA said the high-rise project had originally been approved as a five-star hotel but was later turned into residential apartments, allegedly causing Islamabad to lose a major hospitality development.

Background of the case

The dispute has its roots in a 2019 Supreme Court ruling by former chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar and former justice Ijazul Ahsan, which had conditionally permitted the regularisation of One Constitution Avenue.

"The committee has been tasked with examining all aspects of the issue and submitting a comprehensive report to PM Shehbaz within one week", the statement read.

"During this period, all affected individuals will be able to present their concerns before the committee, which will hear all parties and stakeholders without any discrimination", the statement added.

The latest development means the matter will now be reviewed at the federal level before any further administrative step is taken regarding the building.