ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA), with the presence of Islamabad Police, sealed the Central Secretariat of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) late Thursday night.
According to a media report, the CDA Building Control Directorate sealed House No. 1-A, Street 32 of Sector G-8/4, where the PTI Central Secretariat was established.
The building was sealed due to non-conforming use and the illegal construction of an additional floor.
CDA sources said that the owner of the 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 the 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. Ayub said the city administration launched the operation at night without prior notice.
