The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a formal order concerning a petition that challenges the newly imposed entry fee for accessing the service road in Islamabad’s New Blue Area. The court has directed the Administrator of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) to appear in person on Monday for further proceedings.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir delivered the order while hearing the petition filed by Advocate Tayyab. In addition to summoning the MCI Administrator, the court has also issued notices to the Interior Secretary and the Chief Commissioner Islamabad, requesting their written responses on the matter.
The petitioner highlighted that the New Blue Area hosts commercial markets, corporate headquarters, and restaurants, where the MCI has introduced a charge of Rs100 for using the service road. It was emphasized that this fee is not a parking charge but applies to all users of the road, irrespective of whether they park their vehicles.
Furthermore, the petition argued that the civic authority is not providing any specific service or facility in exchange for the fee, making the levy unjustified and unlawful. The petitioner maintained that this imposition violates previous rulings by higher courts.
In a significant development, the petition urged the court to declare the MCI’s decision to impose the entry fee illegal and without lawful authority. The court has scheduled to continue the hearing after receiving the replies from the concerned officials and the personal appearance of the MCI Administrator.
