ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Thursday directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to finalise regulations for Islamabad’s informal settlements in petitions against the recent demolition drives in the federal capital.

The development comes amid an ongoing demolition drive launched by the CDA, which has targeted informal settlements across the federal capital, as well as historic villages such as Saidpur, Malpur and Noorpur Shahan. Thursday’s hearing was presided over by FCC Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan. During the hearing, he directed the CDA to formulate rules for regularising informal settlements in Islamabad.

Lawyer Faisal Siddiqui appeared on behalf of the petitioner, while lawyer Qasim Chohan represented the CDA. Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman was also present at the hearing. “Why have the regulations not been finalised yet?” Justice Khan asked the AAG during the hearing.

In response, the AAG said that “there had been a delay due to the change of the CDA chairman,” assuring the court that the draft has been ready and would be approved in the next CDA board meeting. The petitioner’s counsel maintained that “no one can be evicted overnight.

“This is Islamabad, not Gaza,” Siddiqui said, urging the court to consider the case “not on account of mercy but as a legitimate right.” Justice Khan, addressing the AAG, asked whether any reserved space existed for informal settlements in Islamabad, to which the AAG replied that “there are no slums in the CDA Master Plan”. “Slums established up to 1995 were recognised on humanitarian grounds,” the AAG informed the court.

At this, Siddiqui argued that “despite the 2001 and 2016 policies, authorities are evicting people from their homes.”

“If the policy exists, then what is the problem?” Justice Khan asked, to which Siddiqui said, “The issue is the implementation of the policy, which can be made possible through your order.” “No one can be evicted without being provided an alternative place,” the petitioner’s counsel said.

The CDA’s legal counsel, during the hearing, maintained that the “land allotted for informal settlements in Islamabad was being misused.” “Despite being given alternative accommodation, the residents did not vacate their previous homes,” Chohan claimed, adding that the CDA was facing difficulties in clearing the settlements.

Siddiqui argued that around 400,000 people were currently living in informal settlements. He added that the CDA Master Plan also stated that 50 per cent of Islamabad’s population lived in such settlements.

During the hearing, the AAG also claimed that the settlements “were under mafia control”.

After hearing all sides, the court adjourned the hearing for four weeks, providing the CDA time to formulate rules.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2026