IHC issues notices on contempt plea of restaurant owner

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has served notices on senior officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration for violating court orders in Tandoori Junction (TJ) restaurant case.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, taking up the petition, served notices on CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa, MCI Directorate of Management and Administration Director, Sania Hameed and ICT Administration Assistant Commissioners City, Farhan Ahmed and Ghulam Murtaza Chandio and Magistrate Ali Javed and sought a formal reply within two weeks, according to a certified copy of the order sheet, issued on Saturday.

Javed Asif, TJ restaurant owner in F-7 Markaz, filed a contempt petition under Article 204 of the Constitution and relevant sections of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 against the respondents in connection with an alleged breach of the court’s previous order on September 27, 2024, which directed the de-sealing of TJ restaurant.

The petitioner’s counsel, Qaiser Imam, inter-alia, contended that despite the court’s suspension of a notice of September 20, 2024, and the order to de-seal the restaurant, the authorities conducted an operation and removed utensils and other materials from the premises, violating the court order. The case has been re-listed for a subsequent hearing.

Meanwhile, an exemption sought by the petitioner has been allowed by the chief justice, subject to all legal exceptions.