Inquiry Launched Into Major Structural Flaws at Islamabad High Court Building
ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) convened a full court meeting on Tuesday to address growing concerns over significant structural and operational flaws in its recently inaugurated building. The meeting, chaired by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, concluded with the decision to launch a formal inquiry by an independent and reputable firm into the building’s construction quality.
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The court building, which took nearly a decade to complete at a cost of over Rs. 11 billion, has faced several issues since its opening. These concerns came to a head after a malfunctioning elevator left more than a dozen individuals, including lawyers, trapped for over 30 minutes in August. The incident prompted the initial involvement of the housing ministry, which later failed to assign clear responsibility.
Islamabad High Court Building
An internal inquiry reportedly conducted by the Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD), the construction firm Habib Rafiq (Private) Limited, and other stakeholders identified multiple faults in the elevator system. However, the report did not specify who was responsible for its flawed installation and maintenance. It also noted the absence of several features that were originally part of the prototype and specifications.
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The IHC expressed strong dissatisfaction with the PWD for failing to submit a detailed report on the building’s shortcomings. Beyond elevator issues, the structure suffers from a range of deficiencies, including an inefficient cooling system, inadequate parking facilities for litigants and lawyers, and the absence of essential safety and support systems such as firefighting, IT infrastructure, lightning protection, and security mechanisms.
Islamabad High Court Building
During the same meeting, the court also explored the prospect of live-streaming its proceedings. To advance this initiative, a Two-member committee was formed comprising Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz. The committee has been tasked with developing a comprehensive framework and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for live-streaming, with input from other IHC judges.
The Islamabad High Court building, despite its prestige and massive budget, is now under intense scrutiny for failing to meet basic standards of functionality and safety. The upcoming independent inquiry is expected to shed light on the lapses in construction and oversight that have led to the current crisis.
