Sub-lessees seek inclusion in One Constitution Avenue appeal before IHC

A group of sub-lessees, including the new holder of an apartment previously owned by PTI founder Imran Khan at One Constitution Avenue, has approached the Islamabad High Court seeking to become parties in an ongoing intra-court appeal related to the project.

According to court documents, Shahid Naseer, who acquired the apartment located in Tower C of One Constitution Avenue through a sub-lease arrangement, filed a miscellaneous application along with other applicants.

The application was also filed by Zainab Ahsan, daughter of Shahid Naseer and senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan.

The applicants requested the court to include five sub-lessees of One Constitution Avenue as appellants in the intra-court appeal, arguing that their legal rights and interests were directly linked to the outcome of the case.

According to the application, the petitioners had lawfully acquired their apartments in the project and should therefore be allowed to participate in proceedings to protect their interests.

The applicants further contended that the apartment sub-lessees had already filed an intra-court appeal and sought formal recognition as parties to the litigation.

The matter has been fixed for hearing on Wednesday before a division bench comprising Justice Muhammad Azam Khan and Justice Inam Amin Minhas.

The case stems from litigation concerning One Constitution Avenue following the Capital Development Authority (CDA) 's cancellation of the lease granted to the project's developer.

Earlier, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar upheld the legality of the lease cancellation.

The court had also restrained appellants from evicting sub-lessees and other occupants pending adjudication of third-party rights claims raised in the intra-court appeals.

The division bench is expected to hear arguments on the request for impleadment and the protection of sub-lessees' interests during Wednesday's proceedings.