ISLAMABAD, NOV 20 /DNA/: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday extended until November 28 the interim injunction restraining the Capital Development Authority (CDA) from auctioning 10 cricket grounds and 10 football grounds in the federal capital.
Justice Inam Amin Minhas of the IHC heard the petition filed by Abubakar bin Talat, President of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Sports Journalists Association (RISJA). The petitioner appeared in court along with his counsel, Barrister Umer Ijaz Gilani. A female lawyer, Sabeen, represented the CDA, while no one appeared on behalf of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI).
Expressing displeasure over the CDA’s failure to submit a written reply despite previous directions, the court questioned the authority’s counsel: “Why has the reply not been filed yet?” The bench directed both the CDA and MCI to submit their responses before the next hearing without fail and issued fresh notices to both entities.
In the petition filed through Barrister Umer Ijaz Gilani and his legal team, the RISJA president contended that the CDA has no legal authority to auction the sports grounds. He argued that under the Islamabad Local Government Act, playgrounds cannot be outsourced or converted for commercial purposes. Charging fees for access to these grounds would restrict citizens’ right to use them, effectively closing cricket and football fields to the general public.
The petitioner further maintained that the maintenance of sports grounds and provision of sporting facilities in Islamabad is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI). The petition seeks a declaration that the CDA’s planned auction is illegal and that the authority to manage and provide access to these grounds lies solely with the MCI.
It is pertinent to mention that the CDA’s Director Sports and Tourism had issued an advertisement on July 4 for the open auction of the grounds for a period of five years, with bidding to start at PKR 5 million per ground.
The court maintained the stay order on the auction and adjourned the hearing. The case will resume on November 28.
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