The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) administrator, KMC’s director parks and encroachment, deputy commissioner South, SSP South, and other official respondents to ensure that no unlawful construction is carried out on an amenity plot in Clifton area.
An NGO, Check and Watch Environmental Foundation, moved the court against respondents – the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) administrator, KMC’s director parks and encroachment, deputy commissioner South, home secretary, SSP South, SHO Boat Basin police station, Sindh Building Control Authority’s director general over their failure to stop the encroachment on the amenity plot.
Muhammad Talib Shah, NGO’s president, submitted that some illegal construction was ongoing on the plot number ST-9, Block 2, Clifton, which was earmarked for public park and playground. He alleged that the constructor in connivance with the official respondent was building mosque and seminary on the amenity plot illegally.
He said he had received several complaints from the residents of the locality about the illegal construction when it started. Shah argued it was a settled law that amenity plot could not be put to another use except recreation.
He said he approached the local administration and police officials against the unlawful construction but they avoided to take any action. Therefore, he requested the court to order respondents to remove the encroachment from the amenity plot.
After hearing arguments, a two-judge bench directed all the respondents to ensure that not a single brick was laid without court’s permission. The court also asked the SHO Boat Basin police station to submit a report on actions taken to stop encroachment on the public park.
The court ruled that the KMC administrator and SBCA’s chief controller building should also ensure that no construction at all without a proper approval was carried out. The court also issued notice to K-Electric and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to respond to the petition. Hearing of case was adjourned till November 12.
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