IHC seeks CDA response on appeals of One Constitution Avenue apartment sub-lessees

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued notices to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on intra-court appeals filed by 20 apartment sub-lessees of the multi-billion-rupee One Constitution Avenue project, seeking protection of their possession rights after the cancellation of the project’s lease. The court sought the CDA’s response by tomorrow (Wednesday). A division bench comprising Justice Muhammad Azam Khan and Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas sought a response from the CDA while hearing appeals filed by apartment owners, including former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani and former air chief Mujahid Anwar Khan. During the hearing, counsel for the appellants argued that paragraph 30 of the recent single-bench judgment adversely affected the rights of apartment owners even though their possession and occupation of the apartments had been recognised. The court was informed that residential towers B and C were constructed in accordance with the approved layout plan, and that, after the lease was cancelled in 2023, the CDA had appointed its Director of Estates as the project’s administrator. Counsel stated that a management committee comprising residents was also formed under the supervision of the CDA to run the day-to-day affairs of the residential towers and that the appellants had been residing there legally under the arrangement approved by the authority. The petitioners requested the court to declare their sub-lease rights lawful and enforceable, restrain the CDA from interfering in their peaceful possession and declare paragraph 30 of the single bench verdict null and void. During the proceedings, Justice Azam Khan observed that notices were being issued to the CDA and directed the authority to appear before the court on Wednesday. “You also come prepared,” the judge told the counsel. Advocate Ali Raza, representing the apartment owners, urged the court to grant interim protection to the residents. He informed the bench that a com