ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) Member (Estate) Mohammad Zaman Watto has accused the petitioner’s counsel of framing him in contempt of court proceedings by making a false statement about the circumstances surrounding his absence from a hearing at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

According to the reply submitted on behalf of Mr Watto in response to a show cause notice issued to him for contempt of court he alleged that on September 23, 2026, the counsel for the petitioner made a “false/incorrect statement” before the court. The petitioner’s counsel claimed that on September 16, 2026, Mr Riaz Khan, Deputy Director (Land), had informed the court that Mohammad Zaman Watto was unwell and therefore unable to appear.

The case pertains to the allotment of plots.

The CDA official’s reply rebutted this claim, stating that the assertion “does not reflect the factual position”. Mr Watto asserted that he “never authorised Riaz Ahmad Khan, Deputy Director (Land), to make such a statement” before the court.

Explaining his absence, he clarified that on September 16, 2026, he was actually present before the Court of Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas, where the CDA chairman had been directed to appear in person in another petition.

The CDA official stated that during this time, he remained in constant contact with Riaz Khan. Unfortunately, by the time Mohammad Zaman Watto was relieved from the proceedings before Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas, the proceedings before Chief Justice Dogar’s court had already concluded. Consequently, he could not appear before the IHC on that date.

During the hearing, CDA counsel Nazir Jawad sought an unconditional apology on behalf of Mohammad Zaman Watto, which Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar immediately rejected. The chief justice remarked that despite completing 60 years of service, the CDA member had failed to learn the respect due to the court. The petitioner’s counsel argued that Mr Watto had cited illness as an excuse for his absence, yet he had appeared in another courtroom alongside the CDA chairman to provide protocol.

The court documents also revealed the background of the original petition.

Mohammad Zaman Watto’s reply states that pursuant to an order dated June 15, 2026, he was directed to appear in person on June 23, 2026. However, the petition was cancelled on June 23 and subsequently fixed for September 16, 2026. The court’s order from September 16 noted Mr Watto’s absence and directed both officers to appear on the next date to explain non-compliance.

Regarding the merits of the main petition, Mohammad Zaman Watto’s reply revealed that irregularities were identified during the allotment of plots to affectees as rehabilitation benefits, leading to scrutiny. The cases have now been finalised, and the plots shall be allotted to the petitioners through Nadra e-balloting within a period of one month.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2026