ISLAMABAD, May 2 (Alliance News): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a high-level committee to review the ongoing dispute surrounding One Constitution Avenue in Islamabad, directing authorities to refrain from taking any action until a final decision is reached.
According to an official statement, the committee will be headed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and includes Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, along with the cabinet and commerce secretaries. The body has been tasked with examining all aspects of the matter and submitting a comprehensive report within one week.
The committee will hear all affected individuals and stakeholders, ensuring an inclusive review process. During this period, the Islamabad administration and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) have been instructed to hold off on any enforcement actions.
The development follows reports that CDA officials, accompanied by police, had reached the site to take possession of the 22-storey building after the cancellation of its lease. Authorities had earlier issued a deadline for residents to vacate the premises, with warnings of electricity disconnection for those remaining.
The situation escalated after the Islamabad High Court dismissed a petition filed by a private company challenging the lease cancellation. During proceedings, the CDA informed the court that the developer had defaulted on payments for more than two decades, prompting the termination of the lease.
Officials further stated that the project, initially approved as a five-star hotel, was later converted into residential apartments, allegedly depriving the capital of a major hospitality development.
The controversy dates back to a 2019 ruling by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, when former chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar and former justice Ijazul Ahsan conditionally allowed the regularisation of the project.
The committee’s findings are expected to play a key role in determining the future of the building and addressing concerns of residents and stakeholders.
