ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a high-powered Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the controversial One Constitution Avenue case following the recommendations of a special committee formed to review the matter.
According to sources, the committee headed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar submitted its findings to the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday, after which the prime minister approved the formation of the JIT.
The One Constitution Avenue project, located in Islamabad’s Red Zone, has become the subject of legal and administrative proceedings following the cancellation of its lease over an alleged multi-billion-rupee default by the developer, BNP (Private) Limited.
The controversy intensified in late April when the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Islamabad administration launched an evacuation operation after the Islamabad High Court upheld the lease cancellation.
On May 1, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif constituted a committee headed by the law minister to hear all stakeholders and submit recommendations. The prime minister also suspended further evictions after forming the committee.
On May 25, the Islamabad High Court granted interim relief to residents by restraining authorities from carrying out additional evacuations.
Several apartment owners later sought to become parties in the case, arguing they were lawful purchasers affected by the lease cancellation. The court proceedings were subsequently adjourned, extending interim protection for residents.
Following the submission of the committee’s report, the newly formed JIT has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive investigation into the project’s entire development process.
According to sources, the team will be headed by a Grade-21 officer of the National Accountability Bureau and will include senior officials from the Federal Investigation Agency, Intelligence Bureau, Inter-Services Intelligence, Federal Board of Revenue and the Ministry of Interior.
The JIT will examine the project’s financial default, identify institutional shortcomings and determine responsibility for the controversy.