Pakistan PM Halts Action on Islamabad Luxury Tower, Orders Probe After Late-Night Evictions
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday ordered a halt to further action against residents of Islamabad’s One Constitution Avenue and established a high-level committee to review the contentious eviction of occupants from the luxury high-rise. This decision follows a court ruling that led to a late-night enforcement operation.
The move came after authorities moved in during the early hours of the day to clear parts of the building located in the capital’s high-security Red Zone. Residents complained about the lack of notice and heavy police presence during the operation.
The action was prompted by an Islamabad High Court decision that upheld the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) cancellation of the building’s lease. This is part of a long-running dispute over land use and ownership.
“The prime minister has constituted a special committee to ensure that the requirements of justice are fulfilled in the One Constitution Avenue matter,” Prime Minister Sharif’s Office said in a statement.
The committee, headed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and including Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry and senior bureaucrats, has been tasked with reviewing the issue and submitting a report within a week. “During this period, any affected person may present their case before the committee, which will hear all parties without discrimination,” the statement added.
It also said that no further action would be taken by the Islamabad administration or the CDA until a final decision is made. Residents and social media accounts have alleged that enforcement officials entered the building at 1 a.m. without adequate notice, forcing families to vacate on short notice. Authorities have not publicly detailed the timing or manner of the operation.
The One Constitution Avenue project, located near key government buildings, has been embroiled in legal challenges for years, including disputes over whether its use complied with the original lease terms. The court ruling on Thursday cleared the way for authorities to take control of the property.
The prime minister’s intervention signals a pause in enforcement as the government reviews both the legal case and the manner in which it was carried out.
