ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court has issued notices to the Capital Development Authority, the chief commissioner, the deputy commissioner, and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad on a petition seeking immediate action against open and broken manholes across the capital.
According to DAWN, the court directed the respondents to submit a report and para-wise comments within two weeks, while adjourning the hearing until March 30.
Although Islamabad authorities had earlier launched a citywide campaign to seal open manholes, the issue appears to have persisted in parts of the capital, prompting the Islamabad High Court to intervene after a citizen filed a petition over the alleged inaction of civic bodies.
The petition was filed by Mughal Din, a resident of G-10 Markaz, who argued that uncovered manholes in multiple sectors pose a serious danger to pedestrians, children, elderly citizens, cyclists, and motorcyclists, especially at night and during rainfall when they are harder to spot.
The plea said authorities had failed to act despite a written complaint submitted on February 17.
According to the petition, the failure to cover and maintain manholes amounts to gross negligence and violates citizens’ fundamental rights under Articles 9 and 14 of the Constitution.
It also asked the court to order a citywide survey, an emergency corrective operation within a fixed timeframe and a permanent monitoring mechanism involving community representatives from sectors and union councils in Islamabad.
Key Takeaway
The court’s intervention has put Islamabad’s civic authorities under fresh scrutiny, underscoring that earlier efforts to cover open manholes were not enough to fully remove the risk. With residents still reporting hazards across the city, the case may now force a more urgent, structured and accountable response from the agencies responsible.
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