The Islamabad High Court has ordered the Capital Development Authority to immediately stop its operation in Muslim Colony, a katchi abadi near Bari Imam, after residents challenged the demolitions taking place in the area.
Justice Raja Inam Ameen Minhas issued the directive while hearing a petition and asked CDA to submit a formal reply by December 16.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Sardar Abdul Razzaq argued that thousands of people have lived in Muslim Colony, Noor Pur and Bari Imam since the 1960s.
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He said the Supreme Court had previously instructed authorities to establish a proper framework for dealing with informal settlements, yet CDA had moved ahead without following those guidelines.
The counsel told the court that demolitions were being carried out without any notice to residents and called the operation unlawful.
He requested the court to immediately stop the CDA from displacing vulnerable families, saying the action lacked legal basis and proper procedure.
The court accepted the plea and suspended the operation, directing CDA to halt all activities in the area until further orders. The judge said the matter required a detailed response from the civic authority before further proceedings.
CDA had been demolishing structures in Muslim Colony for several days, arguing that the action was part of its campaign against illegal constructions.
The authority will now be required to justify its position when the hearing resumes on December 16.
