ISLAMABAD: The Khyber Pakh­tunkhwa government on Friday filed a petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against Capital Development Authority (CDA) director Javed Firoz for not implementing the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order for de-sealing the KP House.

KP’s secretary of administration filed the petition with the IHC saying that despite the court’s order on October 10, the CDA failed to de-seal the KP House, violating the court’s directives.

The petition urged the IHC that contempt proceedings should be initiated against CDA director Javed Firoz and other officials concerned as they were bound to comply with court orders and non-compliance of the order is a contempt of court.

Provincial govt claims building not opened despite IHC order

The CDA sealed the premises after police raided KP House to arrest Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who had led a procession of PTI supporters from Peshawar to Islamabad to protest against proposed amendments to Constitution and imprisonment of former prime minister Imran Khan.

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CDA Special Magistrate Sardar Asif, along with the building control teams backed by police, sealed the KP House for alleged building violations on Monday. According to CDA, the building was sealed because of what the CDA claimed ‘illegal construction’.

It said notices were also served, but the KP House administration did not comply.

KP’s secretary of administration petitioned before the IHC against the CDA’s action.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq on Oct 10 ruled that the sealing was carried out without proper legal authority as no valid notice was issued to the petitioner prior to the action.

In a related development, the KP government has filed a petition in the IHC seeking the release of the employees of the provincial government who were arrested during the D-Chowk protest.

The petition cited inspector general of Islamabad Police, deputy inspector general, senior superintendent of police, and station house officer of Sangjani as respondents.

It said that the government employees were performing duties during a peaceful protest and the KP chief minister was participating in the peaceful protest.

The petition further said that the Islamabad police seized official vehicles and arrested the government employees including those who were part of 1122 emergency response team.

The petition requested the court to quash the FIR and ordered the police to release them.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2024