ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, while initiating contempt of court proceedings against the Capital Development Authority (CDA) director general (planning) Ghulam Sarwar Sandhu, sent him to Adiala jail.

Despite restraining orders issued by the court on May 14, the DG not only met local businessman Faisal Sakhi Butt in his official capacity but also assured his unconditional cooperation to him.

The same court, on the petition of senator Babar Awan, sought details of plots, kiosks and other commercial sites, allotted on the directions of Butt.

Besides, the court also asked the CDA to submit a complete report of major decisions taken by Butt including auction of sites in Islamabad during the current regime.

Justice Siddiqui on Monday resumed hearing of land allotment case of Kashmiri migrant Fazal Hussain in which he had alleged that the CDA was running by Faisal Sakhi Butt and not by the CDA chairman, Farkhand Iqbal.

On Monday, he told the court that the role of the CDA chairman was ceremonial as the businessman was enjoying unlimited authority and is actually running the civic body.

He said the CDA officials also considered themselves answerable to the local businessman and this was the reason they violated the court orders and assured him their support.

The court on June 19 issued show cause notices to the CDA officials, DG planning Ghulam Sarwar Sandhu and director municipal administration (DMA) Mansoor Ali Khan, for meeting Butt and on June 26 and directed them to submit written explanation along with affidavits for the said meetings.

Raja Aamir Abbas, counsel for Sindhu, told the court that his client had not committed contempt and the written reply in this regard had already been submitted to the court.

Advocate Abbas when trying to exonerate his client from the contempt of court case, Sandhu started staring Justice Siddiqui which irked the judge who directed the police to arrest him.

The learned judge in his order said: “It has been noted with great concern that mannerism of Ghulam Sarwar Sandhu was not only arrogant but unpalatable as well. He kept on staring at court with anger, as if he intended to give the message that he has no respect for court, judicial proceedings and any order passed therein. The court warned him to be careful but his persistent demeanor is tantamount to disturbing the order and decorum of the court.”

According to the court order, Sandhu intended to bring the authority of the court into disrespect and with the purpose to obstruct and prejudice judicial proceedings.

While initiating the contempt of court proceedings against CDA DG, the order said, “the act of Sandhu is liable to punishment under section 5 (1) of the contempt of court ordinance 2003, for which formal proceedings are being ordered.”

The court directed the police officials to keep Sandhu at Adiala jail and produce before the court on Tuesday.

Justice Siddiqui also heard another petition of Tanvir Khalid Awan through senator Babar Awan against the allotment of commercial and residential land plots, kiosks and other sites in the federal capital Islamabad to the favourite persons.

The court issued notices to the cabinet secretary, the CDA chairman, directors estate, planning, land, finance, municipal administration of the CDA, and in-charge Saidpur village and special projects and directed them to submit reply in a week.

Senator Awan alleged that in the recent past the affairs of civic body were illegally supervised by unconstitutional task force on CDA through a local businessman who is a known property dealer.

He said the outsider allotted hundreds of sites of Islamabad to the selected persons in sheer violation of the rules.