Govt, allies at loggerheads over Islamabad tree-cutting drive

The ongoing tree-cutting drive in Islamabad has put ruling coalition partners at odds, with key allies questioning the government’s plan in the National Assembly on Tuesday. Addressing the NA session, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Shazia Marri said that thousands of trees had been cut down in various parts of the capital, including Shakarparian and called the matter “very serious”. Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Dr Farooq Sattar also raised questions over the move, saying that some old trees have also been cut down due to construction in the capital, which should not have happened.