Traders and PTI leaders criticised Islamabad authorities’ decision to overnight close Centaurus Mall, a high-rise shopping centre situated in the capital’s F-8 district at the intersection of Jinnah and Faisal avenues, saying it was “political retribution.”
However, a notice pasted outside the mall states: “The premises has been sealed on account of non-conforming use by order of director building control-city, CDA (Capital Development Authority).”
Videos circulating on social media showed barbed wires placed outside the mall, with a police mobile unit parked nearby.
عجیب اتفاق۔۔۔ تکرار کے بعد شاپنگ مال سیل#CentaurusMall #Islamabad pic.twitter.com/tfOBRPdMPs
— HUM News (@humnewspakistan) December 6, 2022
In a December 2 notification, the CDA said that the orders to seal the mall were being issued on account of the failure to “remove building violations”.
The notification, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, read: “Consequent upon the persistent non-compliance to remove building violations conveyed vide numerous 15 days notices served by Building Control Directorate […] and a show-cause notice … the sealing order of the subject premises/ property is hereby issued, in accordance with ’Islamabad Capital Territory Building Control Regulations 2020 framed thereunder CDA Ordinance 1960 and terms and conditions of allotment/ sale agreement.”
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir premier Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, who is also the mall’s owner, criticised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for “not mentioning the sacrifices of Kashmiri people” during a speech on Monday, which the PTI claimed was the reason for the mall’s closure.
On Monday, PM Shehbaz spoke at the project’s inauguration ceremony to officially launch the renovation of units 5 and 6 of the Mangla Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant, which is located on the Jhelum river in the Mangla area of AJK.
He was just about to finish speaking when Ilyas interrupted and inquired about his assistance to AJK.
A witness said that after finishing his speech, PM Shehbaz swiftly departed the area, ignoring Ilyas, who made every effort to attract the premier’s attention.
Later, during a news conference, Ilyas said that PM Sharif’s “irascibility” was evident in his body language and gestures. He added that PM Shehbaz had “insulted” the Kashmiri people by not mentioning their sacrifices in his address.
Imran Khan, the leader of PTI, commented on the situation on Tuesday. Imran stated, “The sealing of Centaurus Mall by [the] PDM mafia in retaliation to PM AJK reprimanding Shehbaz Sharif for failing to highlight sacrifices of Kashmiris indicates there is law of the jungle in Pakistan since last 8 months.”
The move “sends negative signals to Kashmiris too. Question for our honourable judges: Are they not upholders of the law?” he tweeted.
Sealing of Centaurus Mall by PDM mafia in response to PM AJK censuring SS for not mentioning sacrifices of Kashmiris shows there is law of the jungle in Pak since last 8 mths. Sends negative signals to Kashmiris too. Q for our Honourable Judges: Are they not upholders of the Law?
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 6, 2022
Later, in response to Imran’s tweet, information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb levelled a barrage of accusations against the PTI leader and warned him not to direct the premier’s remarks on Kashmir.
بے شرم نالائق نااہل چور کشمیر فروش کا مذہب کارڈ فیل،گورننس،معیشت،خارجہ تعلقات تباہ،احتساب بیانیہ فیل،خارجہ تعلقات تباہ،امریکی سازش کا بیانیہ دفن، فارن ایجنٹ ،ہیروں توشہ خانہ چور ،شہدا کے خلاف مہم میڈیا اور سیاسی مخالفین پہ ظلم کرنے والا شہباز شریف کو نہ بتائے کشمیر پہ کیا کرنا ہے https://t.co/diPiB4fDDk
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) December 6, 2022
“First his car was stopped in Mangla and today, in Islamabad, his business Centaurus Mall was sealed. A more fascist and non-democratic government has not come to power in Pakistan’s history.
“If you are meting out this treatment to the AJK prime minister only for his criticism, what message are you giving to occupied Kashmir? What message are you giving to the investors in this country?” he questioned.
Ilyas’ criticism of the premier, who controlled the mall, according to PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, allegedly led to the closure of Centaurus Mall.
وزیر اعظم آزاد کشمیر کہ شہباز شریف کی تقریر کے دوران اپنی نشست پر کھڑے ہوئے اور کشمیر پر پاکستان کے کمزور مؤقف ہر احتجاج ریکارڈ کروایا، اس تقریب کے بعد پہلے منگلہ میں ان کی گاڑی کو روکا گیا آج اسلام آباد میں ان کے کاروبار Centaurs Mall کو سیل کر دیا گیا ہے،
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) December 6, 2022
Meanwhile, PTI leader Shireen Mazari termed the move “pathetic” and an example of “petty vengeful behaviour” of the incumbent government.
“The petty vengeful behaviour of crime minister and the state is showing everywhere, especially since they cannot get their act together to stop their economic disaster and political chaos. So PM AJK criticised Shehbaz Sharif for not mentioning Kashmiris’ sacrifices and Shehbaz Sharif responded by sealing Centaurus. Pathetic,” she tweeted.
