On Thursday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the authorities to unseal the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) House in Islamabad, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal dispute regarding the property.
The order came in response to a petition filed by the Secretary of Administration for the KP government, which challenged the sealing of the KP House. The petition called for the reopening of the premises until a final ruling is issued on the matter. The petitioner asserted that the sealing of the KP House, which is the property of the provincial government, was unlawful. Furthermore, they argued that the confiscation of official vehicles after the property was sealed was also illegal.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, who presided over the hearing, reviewed the initial arguments presented by the petitioners before deciding to instruct the de-sealing of the KP House. This decision is expected to restore access to the facility, which has been a point of contention in recent months.
Previously, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had sealed several blocks of the KP House, a move carried out under the supervision of Special Magistrate Sardar Muhammad Asif. During this operation, Blocks A and B were sealed, while Block C remained accessible as families continued to reside there. The CDA cited “violations of rules” as the justification for sealing the guest accommodations within the KP House.
This ruling from the IHC emphasizes the ongoing legal battles surrounding government properties and highlights the importance of adhering to legal processes when making administrative decisions. As the situation unfolds, the reopening of the KP House is likely to have implications for both the provincial government and the capital’s administrative landscape.
