Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has restrained the Capital Development Authority (CDA) from cutting trees in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) for any development project. A single bench of the IHC comprising Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro on Wednesday heard a petition filed by Ayesha Muzaffar, a resident of Ataturk Avenue, challenging the ongoing tree cutting for a road expansion project along Ataturk Avenue, from Express Chowk to Aga Khan Road. Besides issuing the restraining orders, the IHC bench also sought responses from the civic agency and other parties. During the hearing, Advocate Mudassar Latif Abbasi appeared on behalf of the petitioner and adopted the stance that the CDA was acting in clear violation of a prior court order, issued on January 15, 2026, in Writ Petition No. 153/2026, which restrained the authority from cutting trees in the federal capital. The counsel argued that the authority had adopted an “unsustainable approach” to traffic management by resorting to cutting trees and widening roads. He contended that opening roads by eliminating green cover is not a solution to traffic issues. He added that the project involved the removal of more than 55 large trees and dozens of smaller ones. He further pointed out the contradiction in government policy, noting that while an environmental levy was being imposed on petrol in the name of conservation, billions of rupees were simultaneously being spent on projects that harm the environment. After hearing the arguments, Justice Soomro restrained the CDA from cutting any trees on the said stretch and issued notices to the respondents, directing them to submit their replies by next Tuesday. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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