Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday ordered Sindh Government to submit the report about removal of encroachment from parks, amenity plots and others places in two months after the court showed its displeasure over failure of authorities to implement its orders. A three bench of the SC headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprised of Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah resumed the hearing on the encroachment case at Karachi Registry. The court ordered Advocate General Sindh to read the earlier order of the court on removal of encroachment.
Justice Gulzar observed that Sindh and City governments have failed to implement the court orders and remarked, "What would happen if federal government also met the same fate after it jumped into the city affairs." Justice Gulzar said that the court would issue contempt of court notice to Chief Minister Sindh over non-compliance of its orders and asked Advocate General Sindh to tell the court after consulting with Chief Minister as how the court orders would be implemented. The court also sought the report from federal government about removal of barriers in front of consulates after IG Sindh told the court that matter pertained to Foreign Ministry.
Justice Gulzar Ahmed said that barriers have been removed in front of embassies in Islamabad and remarked that in Karachi thousands of trees have been chopped off for USA consulate. Justice Gulzar said that encroachments are rampant in all parts of city and asked about the solution to end encroachment in the city. He said that whole of city has been sold for vested interests and added Sindh and local governments were responsible for keeping the city clean from encroachments.
Justice Gulzar said to the Advocate General, "Don't befool the people when he told the court that Chief Minister himself is chairing the meeting." The court granted three-week time to the police for removal of their pickets and check posts from footpaths, roads, parks, colleges and schools in the city. About the distribution of powers between Sindh Government and Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC), the court ruled that it would take up the case on August 9, 2019.
During the hearing, Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar and Advocate General Sindh Salman Talabuddin exchanged hot words when the former complained about the lack of funds. The court restrained Mayor Karachi to make the speech and asked Advocate General about funds release to KMC. The AG Sindh refused to give any commitment for funds to KMC on behalf of Sindh Government as province is also receiving less funds from the federal government. The court put off the hearing of issue for August 9, 2019.
About encroachment in Kidney Hill Park, the court dismissed the plea of overseas Pakistanis for a residential area in the Kidney Hill Park and declared all 62 acres of land the ownership of the park. The KMC presented the restoration of the park map in the court and submitted that the civic body needed the funds for restoration of the park. The court also came hard on K-electric over the death of several persons due to electrocution during the heavy downpour recently. Justice Gulzar said that KE delivered nothing and ruined the whole infrastructure of the city.
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