ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the court of Senior Special Magistrate Sardar Mohammad Asif has issued arrest warrants for the operators of 16 housing societies and directed the concerned Station House Officers (SHOs) to arrest them and ensure their appearance before the court on May 14.

He said the housing schemes were legitimate, but they were defaulters of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), with outstanding dues amounting to Rs1.8 billion.

Sources said the CDA’s Housing Directorate had referred the case to the court of the Senior Special Magistrate, who, after issuing notices, the other day issued warrants for the operators of the said societies.

These societies include Account Group Officers Housing Scheme, Al Hamra Avenue Housing Scheme, Bahria Town, Bahria Paradise Commercial Scheme, Capital Enclave Housing Scheme, Gulberg Residencia Housing Scheme, Jeddah Town, OPF Housing Scheme, River Garden, Senate Avenue, Soan Garden, Margalla View, Ministry of Interior Housing Scheme, Multi Garden-I, and Roshan Pakistan Corporation Housing Scheme.

These societies are defaulters of various charges, including extension charges and commercialisation charges, amounting to a total of Rs1.8 billion.

An official of the magistrate’s court told Dawn that due process had been adopted before issuing the arrest warrants and all the societies had been given sufficient time by the court, but they failed to respond.

“Now, warrants have been issued and the concerned SHOs have been directed to present these operators before the court on May 14,” he said.

Responding to a query regarding Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz, the court official said, “I guess warrants were issued for people dealing with the finances of the societies, such as finance managers. So, no warrants for Malik Riaz were issued.”

He added that the CDA wanted recovery of its pending payments.

“If these societies pay the pending amount, the CDA will not move against them further,” he said.

It is relevant to note that recently Mohsin Naqvi extended full support to the CDA in taking action against influential figures, including housing societies.

Recently, the CDA also issued a public notice sharing details of 99 illegal housing societies operating in Islamabad and requested the public not to invest in these societies.

It is also relevant to note that besides the 99 illegal housing schemes, there are around 40 legitimate housing schemes in Islamabad as well.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2026