PTI central secretariat sealed in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) in presence of Islamabad Police sealed the Central Secretariat of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on late Thursday night.

The CDA Building Control Directorate sealed House No 1-A, Street 32 of Sector G-8/4 where PTI Central Secretariat was establishment.

The building was sealed owing to non-conforming use and illegal construction of an additional floor.

The CDA sources said that owner of building was issued notices on November 19, 2020, February 22, 2021, and June 14, 2022. Then a show cause notice was also served on September 4, 2023. An operation was also conducted to vacate illegally occupied land adjacent to the secretariat. The operation was conducted with the help of heavy machinery and illegally placed containers by the PTI were demolished and removed.

As the operation was underway, the PTI called upon its workers to immediately arrive at the secretariat.

The Islamabad police arrested dozens of PTI leaders and activists, including Islamabad Chapter party president Amir Masood Mughal during the operation.

The police said that the party activists resisted the CDA operation by using force and scuffled with the police deployed at the secretariat.

A police spokesman said that the arrested people have been shifted to Aabpara Police Station.

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said that they did not receive any orders from the CDA.

Talking to the media outside the office, PTI Secretary-General Omar Ayub strongly condemned the late-night action, saying that the party would raise the issue of the CDA in the assembly.

“The PTI condemns the CDA action in the strongest terms,” he said, as he drew parallels to the operation to the onslaught of Israel on Gaza, where thousands have lost their lives and hunger is being used as a weapon. Ayub said the city administration launched the operation at night without prior notice.