ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued notices to Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Municipal Corporation of Islamabad (MCI) seeking reply on a petition filed against the civic agency’s move to outsource six cricket grounds in the federal capital.

MCI has issued an advertisement in newspapers inviting parties to outsource management, operation and maintenance of six cricket grounds.

The cricket grounds included G-8/2 (old Diamond Cricket Ground), Bhutto Cricket Ground G-7/1, Margalla Cricket Ground G-9, National Cricket Ground F-7, Marghzar Cricket Ground Saidpur Village and Shalimar Cricket Ground main Margalla Road F-6. IHC Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan heard the petition.

Adil Aziz Qazi, counsel for the petitioner, argued that the government is renting out six grounds which would not be financially feasible for players to use these facilities.

He said that the MCI was charging Rs2,000 to Rs4,000 from the players for using the cricket grounds. If they are outsourced to private clubs, they would charge exorbitant fee for these grounds.

He said the MCI administrator issued a notification on Sept 8 to outsource these grounds. He argued that the administrator cannot outsource the grounds since it was a domain of the mayor who would be elected after the local government elections. He said an administrator, who has been appointed for a short period, cannot outsource grounds for two years.

The court after issuing notices to the respondents adjourned further hearing till Friday.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2022