ISLAMABAD: A late-night enforcement operation at the luxury “One Constitution Avenue” complex in Islamabad has ignited a firestorm of public debate, pitting arguments of legal accountability against concerns of heavy-handed state action and investor confidence.
CONSTITUION ONE:
1. 200 families
2. Rs20 billion of private capital
3.Developer defaulted on payment for 2 decades
4. Developer violated land use
5. Developer sold units without clear title
6. CDA approved plans
7. CDA allowed construction
8. CDA allowed sale of units
9.… pic.twitter.com/GIEGV6dkII— farrukh saleem (@SaleemFarrukh) May 2, 2026
The dispute — rooted in a two-decade lease default — has become a flashpoint for broader questions about elite privilege, rule of law, and institutional credibility in Pakistan.
Located on a prime 13-acre plot in Islamabad’s Red Zone on Constitution Avenue, One Constitution Avenue comprises twin high-rise towers originally approved during the Musharraf era as a five-star hotel project. Over the years, the development was converted into residential apartments and commercial units.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) maintains that the project’s leaseholder, BNP Pvt Ltd, violated lease terms and defaulted on payments totaling several billion rupees over nearly 20 years. Citing these breaches, CDA canceled the lease — a decision upheld in early May 2025 by the Islamabad High Court under Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar after protracted litigation.
Enforcement began around 1:00 AM this week, with police and CDA officials entering the premises to vacate units. Residents — estimated at over 200 families, including tenants and some foreign nationals — reported door-to-door notices, a heavy security presence, and what many described as 12 hours or less to vacate. Videos circulating on social media showed distressed families, armed personnel, and claims that proper documentation was not presented at the time of action.
Within hours, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif intervened, ordering a halt to further administrative action and constituting a high-level review committee led by the Federal Law Minister. The committee has been tasked with examining legal, procedural, and humanitarian aspects of the case. Officials said the PM’s move reflected sensitivity to both legal compliance and the economic and diplomatic optics of the eviction.
Divided Narratives: Law vs. Optics
Public and media reaction has split sharply along four broad lines:
1. Rule of Law and Accountability
Supporters of the CDA and IHC decision argue the case is a clear-cut lease violation. They point to two decades of defaults and unauthorized conversion from a hotel to residential use, contending that no entity should be exempt from contractual obligations. For this camp, the enforcement — however belated — represents a rare step against elite encroachment on state land in the capital.
2. Criticism of Enforcement Methods
Others have condemned the timing and manner of the operation. Critics highlight the midnight raids, armed police presence, and short-notice evictions, arguing that genuine buyers, tenants, and foreign investors acted in good faith and are now bearing the cost of a dispute between CDA and the developer. Property rights advocates warn that such optics could damage investor confidence and Pakistan’s image for foreign direct investment.
3. Allegations of Selective Targeting
A third narrative questions why enforcement occurred now, after years of legal limbo. Speculation on talk shows and social media has invoked “deep state” and “elite vs. elite” theories — suggesting shifting power dynamics, political signaling, or selective accountability. Questions persist about who benefited from the project’s approvals and operations over the past 20 years.
4. Judiciary Under Scrutiny
The role of the judiciary has also become contentious. Some blame past benches for delayed adjudication or initial project approvals, while others defend the recent IHC verdict as a necessary upholding of CDA’s position after exhaustive litigation.
Broader Implications
The One Constitution Avenue saga encapsulates recurring tensions in Pakistan: elite capture of premium land, inconsistent application of regulations, and the politicization of enforcement. With the complex situated in the symbolic heart of the capital, the case carries weight beyond its property value, touching on perceptions of justice, state capacity, and economic stability.
Journalists, anchors, and users on X have amplified resident testimonies and footage of the police action, further polarizing discourse between “no sympathy for violators” and “state brutality” frames.
What’s Next
The federal committee’s findings are now awaited. Its mandate includes reviewing the lease cancellation’s legal basis, the enforcement procedure, and the status of third-party occupants who claim to have purchased or rented units without knowledge of the underlying dispute. Legal experts note that similar cases in Pakistan’s history have rarely ended with clean resolutions, often stretching across governments and courtrooms.
For now, One Constitution Avenue remains sealed, its towers a stark symbol of the uneasy intersection between law, power, and property in Islamabad’s Red Zone.
