ISLAMABAD: Amid rising public concern over large scale tree cutting in the federal capital a writ petition has been filed before the Islamabad High Court challenging the legality of recent deforestation carried out by the Capital Development Authority in multiple areas including Shakarparian. The petition highlights growing alarm over environmental degradation and loss of green cover in the city.

Filed under Article 199 of the Constitution by Mohammad Naveed Ahmad of the Center for Justice and Rights the petition alleges that thousands of mature trees were felled during late 2025 and early 2026 causing grave and irreversible environmental damage. It claims the actions violated citizens fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment guaranteed under law.

According to the petition nearly 29000 paper mulberry trees were removed across Islamabad in 2025 including about 8700 in Shakarparian alone under the justification of controlling pollen related allergies. The petitioner argued that the scale and method of cutting rendered large portions of Shakarparian barren leading to biodiversity loss rising urban temperatures and worsening air quality.

While the CDA maintained that only invasive paper mulberry trees were removed in compliance with Supreme Court orders issued in 2023 and 2025 the petition cited eyewitness accounts and public protests suggesting that native and non allergenic trees were also cut indiscriminately. Similar deforestation was reported in sectors H Eight H Nine F Nine Park Chak Shahzad and near Zero Point linked to road construction park upgrades and other infrastructure projects.

The petition also objected to the construction of a monument in Sector H Eight along the Islamabad Expressway alleging that hundreds of decades old native trees were felled without justification related to pollen control. It questioned the site selection process and pointed to a lack of transparency approvals and public consultation.

Terming the actions a violation of environmental laws including the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 and the Islamabad Wildlife Ordinance 1979 the petitioner sought court intervention to halt further tree cutting fix responsibility and ensure transparency accountability and sustainable planning in future development projects across Islamabad.