The Islamabad High Court issued notices to the federal government, Pakistan Cricket Board, Capital Development Authority and other authorities regarding an appeal against a stadium construction project. Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas and Justice Shah Rukh Arjumand heard the intra-court appeal, which was filed by Hamid Nawaz and Muhammad Khurram Javed.
The respondents in the case include the Ministry of Climate Change, the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad, and the Chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board. Petitioners asked the court to overturn a previous single bench order that permitted land allocation for an international cricket stadium and sports arena in the capital.
Hamid Nawaz and Muhammad Khurram Javed also sought to quash the electronic bidding process and procurement procedures used for the project. The proposed development involves land in Zone III of Islamabad, specifically including Sector D-12 and the village of Shah Allah Ditta.
While land was originally set aside in Sector D-12 for a stadium, the project grew into a planned Olympic Village featuring a hockey stadium and football ground. This expansion requires significantly more land than initially allocated, potentially damaging biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural landscapes.
The appeal highlights the need to scrutinize environmental impacts on wildlife and adhere to international legal obligations such as the United Nations Charter.
