ISLAMABAD, July 23: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday restrained the Capital Development Authority (CDA) from installing 65,000 light-emitting diodes (LED).

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui stayed the project on the petition filed by Siteco Beleuchtungstechnik, a German firm which was the lowest bidder.

Earlier, Justice Azim Khan Afridi of the same court dismissed a public interest petition against the project after the CDA chairman submitted an affidavit on its transparency.

Amir Abdullah Abbasi, counsel for Siteco, adopted before the court that the CDA in February 2010 invited proposals from local and international firms for replacement of street lights with LED technology or other energy efficient solutions.

He said the Siteco secured highest points in technical prequalification and was the lowest bidder but the CDA bosses in connivance with the influential people started using delaying tactics by putting extra demands and wanted his client to share the project with CDA’s favourite company.

Advocate Abbasi said the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) also advised the CDA to award the project to the lowest bidder but the CDA allegedly ignored the Siteco.

Advocate Abbasi requested the court to direct the CDA to award the project to the lowest bidder in accordance with the guidelines of PPRA.

Advocate Abbasi told Dawn that they were not a party in the earlier petition