IHC orders CDA to de-seal PTI Central Secretariat

In a significant development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to de-seal the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Central Secretariat, providing the party with its second major relief in two days.

On Monday, the IHC had annulled the conviction of Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case. Today's order directs the CDA to de-seal the PTI office, citing procedural irregularities and lack of due process.

The court's six-page order states that the CDA failed to provide explanations for issuing notices to the previous owner in 2022 and 2023 and did not serve any notice on the PTI before sealing its office. The order also notes that the sealing order was not addressed or copied to the petitioner, and there is no evidence of service.

The PTI had moved the IHC on May 24, seeking to de-seal its office, which was sealed by the CDA over alleged building rule violations. The party had termed the CDA's action as "malafide" and "without due process of law."

With this order, the IHC has granted the PTI a significant reprieve, allowing the party to regain access to its central secretariat.