IHC Halts Auction of 20 Sports Grounds

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday prolonged the suspension of the sale of 20 cricket and football fields in the federal capital unt...

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday prolonged the suspension of the sale of 20 cricket and football fields in the federal capital until November 28. A single bench of the IHC, including Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas, reviewed the petition submitted by the Sports Journalists Association concerning the auction of 10 cricket and 10 football grounds within the federal capital.

At the hearing, lawyer Umar Ijaz Gilani represented the petitioner, while lawyer Sabeen Fahim represented the CDA, with no one appearing for the MCI. Justice Inaam showed frustration over the delay in submitting the response. The court ordered the CDA and MCI to present their responses at the next session and postponed the hearing until Friday.

Previously, in this case, the court had sent notices in the petition that contested the auction of 10 cricket and 10 football fields by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in the federal capital. The bench directed the respondents to submit their response or written comments within two weeks.

Via the urgent petition, the applicant has contested the notices/notifications issued on 04.07.2025, which outlined auctions for the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) of sports facilities at different locations in Islamabad on a rental basis. The applicant mentioned that even though there are clear rulings from this court and the country's Supreme Courts, the respondents, who only have temporary oversight of the Local Government departments, have issued the tender notice dated 04th July 2025, inviting bids for leasing public land under the 'Build Operate and Transfer' model to develop sports facilities such as football and cricket grounds for a duration of five years.

The legal team argued that the disputed notice and the associated actions are a complete breach of the law and policy, and the respondents lack any legal authority to propose or carry out such actions since the departments fall under the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad. The Capital Development Authority does not have the authority or power to make decisions regarding matters within the jurisdiction of MCI.

He also argued that the CDA's invitation to bid for leasing public sports facilities through a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model constitutes an unlawful commercial exploitation of recreational areas intended for free public access. The legal representative further asserted that this practice infringes upon the rights of citizens, especially young people and those from low-income communities.

The legal team took the position that the disputed notice was motivated by ill intent, as the CDA aims to make money from departments that are not actually under the CDA's jurisdiction.

Additionally, the CDA lacks legal power to issue such long-term decisions since the department was transferred to it only temporarily.

He stated that any long-term decision about the leasing of Sports Grounds must be made by the elected representatives of Islamabad's residents.

He contended that, according to the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015, only the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) holds the legal power to oversee these facilities.

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