Islamabad, Pakistan, December 8, 2008 (ANI): Pakistani authorities sealed Jinnah Avenue in Islamabad following a verbal altercation between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (PTI) and Sardar Tanveer Ilyas (PTI). Sharif was gesturing to Ilyas and asking him to move to his own seat. A witness said that Sharif left the venue after completing his speech. He didn’t pay attention to Ilyas who tried to get his attention.
A notice was posted outside the mall stating that “The premises were sealed due to non-conforming usage by order of director of building control-city ( Capital Development Authority).
Social media videos showed barbed wires being placed outside the mall with a police mobile unit nearby.
The All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajiran union of businessmen Ajmal Baloch protested against the closing of the mall president’s office. He stated that the sealing of the mall was an act of vengeance.
He stated that the sealing of the mall as clear evidence of an “act of revenge” was not right, and that it would have no effect on the lives of the people.
He promised that they would not allow the traders’ group to become a “victims of political revenge.” According to Pakistan Today, he stated that the Islamabad trader community is standing by the traders at Centaurus Mall.
The Capital Development Authority had sent six notices to the mall in 2014-2022. The six notices were issued on March 7, 2014. The final notice was sent on November 23, 2022. No response was received regarding the “non-conforming” use of the building.
A December 02, 2022 order had been issued to close down the mall due to failure to “remove any building violations”. According to Pakistan Today, the notice stated that “Consequent to the persistent non-compliance with building violations conveyed via numerous 15-day notices served […] and an show-cause notice […] The sealing order of the subject premises/property are hereby issued, consistent with the ‘ Islamabad Capital Territory Building Control Regulations 2020, framed under CDA Ordinance 1960 and terms and condition of allotment/sale.
A notice was placed outside the mall that read “The premises have been sealed due to non-conforming usage by order of director-building control-city, CDA.” Eyewitness records indicated that there was a team of Islamabad Police and CDA officials reached the mall and ordered security personnel and staff to leave. Video footage showing the incident has surfaced on social media. It shows that barbed was placed outside the mall and that security officers were ordered to leave. (ANI)