The Islamabad High Court (IHC) expressed its firm disapproval over the failure to grant possession of a plot to a citizen in Sector E-11 of the capital, instructing the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to ensure possession is handed over before the next hearing.

Hearing a petition filed by citizen Sadiqa Arif, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani remarked, “Will the work only proceed if I issue arrest warrants for the CDA Chairman?”

He warned that if judicial orders are not implemented, action will be taken against the Board members as well. The court instructed that the citizen be granted possession of the plot before the next hearing.

During the proceedings, the judge questioned the CDA’s lawyer as to why the affected citizen had not yet been given possession of the plot after such a prolonged delay.

He emphasised that the institution must ensure compliance with judicial orders, warning that failure to do so would result in severe action against the Chairman and Board members.

Justice Kayani made it clear that if the matter was not resolved, arrest warrants would be issued, fines imposed, and the Chairman and Board members would be summoned to court for further instructions.

In response to the CDA’s lawyer’s claim that Board members were on a four-week leave, Justice Kayani directed that the relevant officer provide relief to the affected citizen before the next hearing.

He further noted that if the judicial order was not adhered to, the officer should still appear in court despite the leave. The petitioner’s lawyer argued that despite several years having passed, the CDA had failed to meet its obligations.