Journalist appeals to army chief over Islamabad tree cutting

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 13 January 2026 |  JP Staff Report

Senior journalist Rauf Klasra appealed to Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to intervene against tree felling in Islamabad, saying the CDA cleared the forest for a memorial. He warned of environmental damage and criticized the silence of parliament and federal authorities.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Senior journalist and analyst Rauf Klasra has publicly appealed to Pakistan’s army chief over large-scale tree cutting in parts of the federal capital, saying elected representatives and civilian authorities have failed to respond to environmental concerns. In a post shared on X, Klasra addressed a message to Field Marshal Asim Munir, urging intervention to stop what he described as the destruction of Islamabad’s green cover.

In his post, Klasra referred to tree cutting along a multi-kilometer stretch from the I-8 sector to Zero Point, claiming that the Capital Development Authority has cleared a forested area for the construction of a proposed memorial. He wrote that, according to the CDA, the site is intended for a memorial linked to what he described as a military victory in May, while stressing that his appeal was driven by the silence of parliamentarians, the prime minister, and the federal cabinet.

Concerns over memorial plans and forest loss

Klasra emphasized that while military achievements are a source of national pride, he believes clearing thousands of trees and several kilometers of forest for a memorial is not in the public interest. In the post, he suggested that such a monument could instead be built at Shakarparian Parade Ground, which already hosts official ceremonies and has available space, thereby avoiding further environmental damage.

He also warned that environmental protection should be treated as a matter of national importance, arguing that internal environmental degradation would undermine broader national interests. Klasra wrote that CDA officials were invoking the army’s name in connection with the project, which he said was contributing to public and media dissatisfaction and creating a negative impression.

Claims of environmental impact and public unease

In his message, Klasra asserted that Islamabad’s appeal lies in its trees and forests and claimed that the city’s environment was already showing signs of stress, including rising pollution levels. He further alleged that additional tree cutting was taking place along Park Road in the name of development projects, adding to public concern. These statements were presented as his personal observations and commentary rather than official assessments.

Klasra concluded his appeal by asking the army chief to direct the CDA to halt further clearing, restore the I-8 forest through replanting, and relocate the proposed memorial to Shakarparian. He wrote that the city’s forests and trees should be returned to the public and expressed hope that his requests would be considered.

ATTRIBUTION: Based on a publicly available post by Rauf Klasra on X and publicly known information about Islamabad development authorities.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only