The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday barred the Capital Development Authority (CDA) from continuing its tree-cutting campaign in the territory till the next hearing on February 2, ordering it to submit a detailed report by then.

IHC’s Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued the directives while hearing a petition filed by Muhammad Naveed Ahmad.

Advocate Muddasir Latif Abbasi appeared as the petitioner’s counsel, while an assistant attorney general was present on the state’s behalf.

At the outset of the hearing, Advocate Abbasi contended that the cutting of trees underway in the federal capital was against various rules and regulations, including the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997.

“The cutting of trees is leading to environmental changes, which is dangerous,” the lawyer asserted.

At this point, Justice Soomro summoned the AAG to the rostrum and enquired about the reason for removing trees.

The judge then issued notices to the CDA, the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) and the climate change ministry, seeking responses from them.

Justice Soomro added that a “para-wise response and a detailed report” should be submitted by the next hearing.

Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing until February 2, ordering the CDA to discontinue the deforestation drive till the date.

The petition, a copy of which is available with Dawn, was filed by under Article 199 (jurisdiction of high court) of the Constitution.

Recently, a large-scale tree removal drive took place in at least three locations in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), including around Shakarparian, sparking widespread public criticism.

Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday, stated the figure as 29,115 trees, attributing it to three “possible causes”, and affirmed that a greater number of trees would be planted in the coming months.

While the CDA had earlier maintained that only paper mulberry trees were removed as they had been causing pollen allergies, WWF-Pakistan found that the action was also linked to infrastructure development in multiple locations.