The Islamabad High Court has decided to frame charges against Capital Development Authority (CDA) Member Estate Zaman Wattoo in contempt of court proceedings after he failed to appear before the bench, citing illness.
Apology rejected, indictment next
A single bench of the Islamabad High Court led by Chief Justice Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar heard the contempt matter on Tuesday. Wattoo appeared with his counsel, CDA lawyer Nazir Jawad, and sought an unconditional apology, asking that the case be closed at once. The chief justice rejected that plea and said the accused would be indicted at the next hearing.
Contempt first, then the main petition
The chief justice said the contempt proceedings would be dealt with first, while the main petition would be taken up later. He also directed the prosecutor to appear fully prepared at the next hearing. The sequence keeps the Islamabad High Court CDA contempt track ahead of the wider petition still pending before the same court.
What the court has signalled
By refusing to end the matter on an apology alone, the bench has set a clear next step: formal charges and indictment in the contempt case tied to Wattoo’s earlier non-appearance. For residents who deal with estate and land issues through the CDA, the hearing underlines that senior officers remain answerable when the Islamabad High Court summons them. Further detail on the main petition’s substance was not set out in Tuesday’s contempt focus, which the court put first.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Islamabad High Court ne CDA Member Estate Zaman Wattoo ke khilaf contempt case mein charges frame karne ka faisla kiya hai. Unhon ne pehle bemari bata kar court mein haziri nahi di thi. Court ne un ki maafi qabool nahi ki aur agle hearing par indictment ka kaha. Aam logon ke liye yeh is baat ki nishani hai ke CDA ke bade afsar bhi court ke hukm ki pabandi karne ke zimmedar hain.
