The twin towers of Islamabad One Constitution Avenue (nearly the Grand Hyatt project) topped off with an uncomplicated glass surface, but beneath the surface is a legal quagmire that took ten years to construct. As a result of a dramatic late-night operation by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in May 2026 and a landmark ruling by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the ownership of these luxury units, including the one previously owned by PTI founder Imran Khan, has become a subject of intense national debate.
The Legal Fallout: The IHC Judgment and CDA’s Action
The Islamabad High Court released a detailed judgement that caused shockwaves among the elite of the capital on May 4, 2026. The court affirmed that the CDA, based on a gigantic financial default, was correct in deciding to terminate the lease of the developer, BNP (Pvt) Limited.
Most importantly, the court held that individual buyers of the 263 luxury apartments do not have independent ownership titles. The case made it clear that any sub-lease or sale made by the developer is void under the law because the primary lease to the land was canceled. This decision literally transformed some of the highest priced real estate in Pakistan into what the law in Pakistan termed as an unauthorized construction.
Who Owns Imran Khan’s Former Apartment (Unit C11E)?
Imran Khan has been involved in several politically sensitive issues, one of which is the apartment identified with Imran Khan, located on 11th floor (Unit C11E). But the present “mystery” of its ownership is explained by recent documents:
The Sale: It is recorded that Imran Khan had sold his interest in the apartment in 2022.
The Current Occupant: The house is now in possession of Shahid Naseer who bought it off the previous Prime Minister.
Legal Standing: Despite the private transaction, Shahid Naseer (like all other residents) currently holds no valid legal title to the property following the IHC’s cancellation of the master lease. Under the current ruling, the “ownership” technically reverts to the state (CDA) until a settlement is reached.
The PM’s Intervention and the Review Committee
On May 1, 2026, when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the CDA to discontinue the eviction of residents, the situation took a political turn. Although the CDA had already started to seal off units and cut off utilities, the intervention of the PM was a temporary savior of the residents.
To solve the crisis, a high-level committee led by Federal Minister of Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, was constituted. The committee is tasked with:
Protecting the rights of “bonafide purchasers” who invested billions in the project.
Devising a compensation mechanism or a regularization fee to validate the titles.
Recovering the outstanding Rs 14.6 billion default from the developer.
A Hub for the Elite: High-Profile Neighbors
The mystery deepens when looking at the list of owners, which reads like a “Who’s Who” of Pakistan’s power brokers. Apart from the unit formerly held by Imran Khan, other owners include:
Former Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk
Veteran Politician Aitzaz Ahsan
Former Federal Minister Barjees Tahir
PTI Leader Shandana Gulzar
The involvement of such influential figures is widely seen as the reason why the government opted for a “review committee” rather than proceeding with total demolition or permanent eviction.
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