ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday constituted a high-level committee to examine the contentious One Constitution Avenue case, effectively halting further administrative measures after recent evictions from the prominent residential building in the capital’s Red Zone.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said the committee would be headed by Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar with Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, along with the cabinet and commerce secretaries, serving as members.
The panel has been tasked with undertaking a comprehensive review of the matter and submitting a detailed report to the prime minister within one week, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
It added that the committee would hear all affected parties and stakeholders without discrimination, allowing any aggrieved individual to present their case.
The government has directed that no further action be taken by the Islamabad administration or the Capital Development Authority (CDA) until the prime minister reaches a final decision based on the committee’s recommendations.
The development follows an overnight evacuation operation carried out on Thursday by the CDA and the Islamabad district administration at One Constitution Avenue, after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) upheld the cancellation of the building’s lease over a multi-billion-rupee default.
The court dismissed appeals filed by BNP (Private) Limited and apartment occupants, effectively endorsing the CDA’s decision to revoke the lease of the disputed property.
The case stems from a five-star hotel project awarded nearly two decades ago, which was subsequently converted into residential apartments and commercial units.
The CDA maintains that the developer failed to fulfil its financial obligations, paying only Rs2.9 billion against a total liability of Rs17.5 billion.
Court proceedings also referred to earlier rulings by the Supreme Court and high courts, regulatory probes by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and pending accountability proceedings before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The dispute has attracted attention amid reports that several prominent political and public figures-owned apartments in the building.
Those reportedly holding apartments include jailed former prime minister and PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, noted lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan, Shandana Gulzar, former PML-N minister Burjees Tahir, former caretaker prime minister Chief Justice (retd) Nasirul Mulk and former MNA and ex-federal ombudsperson for protection against harassment of women at the workplaces Kashmala Tariq, and others.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026