ISLAMABAD – A late-night police operation at the One Constitution Avenue building in Islamabad sparked panic among residents after the local authorities ordered the evacuation of the premises within hours.
The residents said that the police officials went door-to-door in the apartments late at night, instructing occupants to vacate the building by evening.
The operation took place after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) upheld the decision of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) cancelling lease of iconic skyscraper One Constitution Avenue due to multi-billion rupees default.
Some residents claimed that doors and locks of certain apartments were forcibly broken during the operation, while roads surrounding the building were also blocked.
The families residing in the building expressed fear and uncertainty following the sudden action, stating that they were informed an “order from above” had been issued to vacate the property within 12 hours.
The building, constructed on a 13-acre plot along Constitution Avenue, has remained controversial due to alleged violations of lease terms.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) had leased the land in 2005 to a private company for 99 years for the construction of a luxury hotel.
However, the company instead developed luxury apartments on the site and sold them, raising legal concerns.
The abrupt midnight operation has heightened tensions among the residents, many of whom have called for clarity and legal protection, as the authorities have yet to issue an official statement explaining the action.
Earlier, Islamabad High Court (IHC) upheld the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) decision to revoke the lease of the landmark One Constitution Avenue building due to a massive financial default.
The ruling was announced by IHC Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar while dismissing petitions filed by M/s BNP (Private) Limited and apartment owners in the building.
The court had earlier reserved its verdict in February in a high-profile case linked to the cancellation of the Grand Hyatt project lease in Islamabad’s Red Zone.
During proceedings, CDA’s counsel Kashif Ali Malik argued that the project, originally allotted nearly two decades ago as a five-star hotel, was unlawfully converted into residential and commercial units.
The CDA maintained that BNP Group failed to meet its financial obligations over 21 years. Out of a total liability of Rs17.5 billion, only Rs2.9 billion — about 16.6 per cent — was paid, falling short of the full payment required under auction conditions for ownership rights.
The authority also cited a Supreme Court order issued on January 9, 2019, stating the developer did not fulfil the conditions laid down at the time.
A later review ruling noted that the earlier order had lost its relevance over time, effectively restoring a 2018 IHC judgement that transferred control of the land and structure back to the CDA.
The civic body further referred to a letter written by BNP on July 25, 2022, in which the company admitted it could neither continue the project nor pay annual instalments due to economic challenges and adverse international ratings. The letter described completion of the project and payment obligations as “impossible.”
Based on this admission, the CDA argued that the company could not contest the lease termination.
During earlier hearings, the chief justice also raised questions about the role of former Supreme Court judge Ijazul Ahsan, who had previously represented BNP and later appeared in related judicial proceedings. The CDA’s lawyer stated that an objection had been raised at the time but was not accepted.
The court was informed that the matter was investigated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), leading to registration of a case against BNP’s chief executive and former CDA officials. The case was later referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), where proceedings are ongoing.
The Public Accounts Committee has also reviewed the matter.
Regarding buyers of apartments, the CDA argued that their status is tied to the main leaseholder, adding that claims of legitimate ownership involve factual disputes that must be decided by an appropriate legal forum.
The authority further noted that the delay in completing the project deprived the capital of a planned five-star hotel for nearly two decades, creating difficulties during official visits and major diplomatic engagements.
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