ISLAMABAD: PPP leader Taj Haider on Friday said that he would file contempt of court petition against the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for demolishing tennis courts.

Addressing a press conference, PPP veteran leader and former senator said that despite having stay orders, the CDA demolished tennis courts under a conspiracy.

He said that 30 years hard work of setting up the courts was destroyed by CDA in 30 minutes adding that he would continue pleading this case until restoration of the court.

Flanked by PPP leader Sibtul Hasan Bukhari,Qayum Baig Advocte, and tennis organisers Subhan Ahmed and Kamran Khalil, here at PPP Central Secretariat the PPP leader said that annual Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Tournament had been taking place at this venue for long. He said PPP had serious concerns over the operation of CDA, adding that a jungle was converted into tennis courts and CDA had demolished it.

Senator Taj Haider said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto is also aware of this issue, adding that CDA did crime and this issue was also taken up in Senate. PPP leader Sibtul Hasan sad that international players used to play at these courts and representatives of international tennis federation also used to visit there. He said: “We were not defaulter of CDA and through a conspiracy operation was launched,” he said and urged the CDA to reconstruct the facility, adding that a lease granted by the interior ministry was valid till 2035, but despite this CDA conducted the operation.

Advocate Khurram Baig said that despite stay orders, operation was conducted, which is a contempt of court, “so we are going to file contempt of court,” he said.

Last week, CDA had demolished several rooms and a fence constructed on the site.

When contacted, an officer of CDA said that civic agency did nothing wrong rather operation was conducted to remove illegal construction, adding CDA never granted any lease, rather the said area is part of park and CDA removed encroachment from the private persons [operators of tennis academy] and courts are still there and available for public free of cost.

He also shared a written response, which stated there were many complaints regarding demands for payment to use tennis courts: “The Park at Embassy road was one park, which was then illegally bifurcated into two by the construction of rooms and boundary walls by private persons inside the park,” he said and there were complaints of demand of fee by private person for using tennis courts developed on state land. “We restored the park into original form after demolishing illegally constructed rooms in the light of high court orders regarding public places,” he said and added that tennis court facilities and park remain available to the public free of cost, but role of private person has been ended.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2024