Lift Falls from Third Floor at Islamabad High Court During Repairs; Operator Seriously Injured
An Islamabad High Court lift incident on Tuesday left an operator seriously injured after the lift fell from the third floor to the ground floor while repair work was under way, according to ProPakistani.
Reports identified the injured man as Wajid. He was repairing the lift when its door became stuck, sending the cabin plunging to the ground floor. He suffered a fractured hip and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar later visited the hospital to check on Wajid’s condition.
Not the first Islamabad High Court lift incident
Today’s Islamabad High Court lift incident is the third such episode at the court’s relatively new building on Constitution Avenue.
On February 6, 2025, a lift fell from the second floor to the ground floor with seven people, including lawyers, inside, as reported by Dawn. All occupants were safely evacuated after maintenance staff opened the lift using a key.
Earlier, on August 25, 2023, senior lawyer Latif Khosa and 16 others were trapped inside a malfunctioning lift at the high court. They were rescued after remaining stuck for more than 30 minutes.
The Islamabad High Court moved from Sector G-10 to its new Constitution Avenue building in 2023. Construction defects came under public discussion after the earlier incidents, and the court’s then chief justice publicly remarked on the quality of the building work. An inquiry was ordered into the elevator malfunction at the time.
Questions over maintenance and safety
Three lift incidents in three years at a building barely three years old raise serious questions about maintenance and construction standards. Tuesday’s incident is particularly concerning because the lift fell while it was being repaired — the exact moment when safety precautions should be tightest.
The injured operator now faces treatment for a fractured hip. The court’s administration has not yet announced whether a fresh inquiry will examine how a lift under repair could fall with its technician inside.
The incident adds to a difficult stretch for the capital’s institutions. The IHC recently slammed customs officials over missing gold, and the court has been hearing high-profile matters including the Imaan Mazari and Hadi appeals. Beyond the judiciary, the capital has seen questions over the new Islamabad model jail’s missing road access and a decision to halve Islamabad’s police checkposts from 24 to 12.
Frequently asked questions
What happened at the Islamabad High Court today?
A lift fell from the third floor to the ground floor during repair work. The operator, identified as Wajid, suffered a fractured hip and was hospitalised.
Who visited the injured operator?
Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar visited the hospital to check on Wajid’s condition.
Has this happened at the IHC before?
Yes. A lift fell from the second floor with seven people inside in February 2025, and in August 2023 Latif Khosa and 16 others were trapped in a malfunctioning lift for more than 30 minutes.
Where is the Islamabad High Court located?
The court moved to its new building on Constitution Avenue, Islamabad, in 2023, after operating from Sector G-10.
