ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued notices to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) on an appeal filed by five faculty members of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) against the construction of Bhara Kahu Bypass.

A division bench, comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, asked the counsel for the petitioners to first prove the locus standi (right of audience) of his clients.

Advocate Kashif Ali Malik, counsel for the appellants, argued that the petitioners were concerned citizens and had filed the intra-court appeal in public interest. The bench remarked that the construction of the bypass was also launched in public interest.

The appellants have challenged the order of a single-member bench that gave the nod to the construction of the bypass, part of Margalla Road, within the premises of the QAU on Dec 13, 2022.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2023