PM Forms Committee to Review One Constitution Avenue Dispute
News Desk
Islamabad: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a high-level committee to examine the long-standing dispute surrounding One Constitution Avenue, directing authorities to halt any action until a final decision is made.
According to an official announcement, the committee will be headed by Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar and include Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, along with the cabinet and commerce secretaries.
The body has been tasked with reviewing all aspects of the case and submitting a comprehensive report within one week.
The government has assured that all affected parties will be given an opportunity to present their concerns, with the committee instructed to ensure a transparent and impartial hearing process.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad administration and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) have been directed to suspend further action until the prime minister issues a final ruling.
Separately, Talal Chaudhry said the government remains committed to enforcing the law and eliminating encroachments, stressing that “rich or poor, everyone will be treated equally.”
He alleged that the developers violated lease conditions, noting that three companies had originally obtained the site on a 99-year lease to construct a hotel but instead developed residential apartments and commercial units.
Providing background, Chaudhry said the plot was auctioned in 2005, with loans later defaulted, leading to financial complications and eventual involvement of accountability authorities.
He further claimed that around 250 apartments were built in violation of the lease agreement and accused the developers of defrauding both the public and institutions.
The CDA maintains that the land was strictly designated for hotel use and cancelled the lease in 2016 over violations. The matter has since moved through multiple legal forums.
In a recent development, the Islamabad High Court upheld the CDA’s decision to cancel the lease, rejecting petitions filed by the developer BNP (Bismillah, Niagara, Paragon Group) and apartment owners. The verdict, reserved earlier this year, was announced on April 30 by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar.
Following the ruling, CDA officials, accompanied by law enforcement, moved to take possession of the building and issued evacuation notices to residents.
The case has a complex judicial history. While the High Court previously declared the construction of luxury apartments illegal, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan led by former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar in 2019 set aside that decision, raising concerns about the fate of investors who had already purchased units.
Located on Islamabad’s Constitution Avenue, the multi-billion-rupee project spans over 13.5 acres and includes residential apartments, commercial spaces, and a planned five-star hotel. Many apartment owners reportedly include prominent figures from politics, bureaucracy, and the judiciary.
With legal, financial, and public interest dimensions intertwined, the newly formed committee is expected to play a critical role in determining the future of one of Islamabad’s most controversial real estate projects.
