ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has been moved against the Capital Development Authority after a contempt petition accused the civic body of defying clear judicial orders by proceeding with tree uprooting activities linked to a major road expansion project in the capital.

The petition alleges that despite an explicit restraining order issued earlier this year, the CDA initiated work involving the removal and transplantation of mature trees along Ataturk Avenue. The court had directed authorities to halt all tree cutting in Islamabad until further notice in a case concerning environmental protection.

The controversy centres on the expansion of a key corridor from D Chowk to Ayub Chowk, where multiple trees have reportedly already been uprooted. Officials have acknowledged ongoing operations, raising concerns about compliance with court directives and environmental safeguards.

Legal arguments presented in the petition assert that transplantation does not exempt the authority from the court’s ban. Experts warn that uprooting mature trees in urban settings often leads to their destruction, causing irreversible environmental damage and undermining the city’s already fragile green cover.

The petitioner has accused CDA leadership of deliberate disobedience, arguing that such actions weaken the rule of law and challenge judicial authority. The chairman CDA has been named as the principal respondent for failing to enforce compliance within the organisation.

The court has been urged to immediately halt the project, summon responsible officials and initiate strict accountability measures. The case has intensified public debate over unchecked urban development and the urgent need to protect Islamabad’s shrinking green spaces amid rising environmental concerns.