The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday gave the period of seven days as a last chance to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) for the removal of encroachments from the Jahangir Park, Saddar.
SHC was hearing a petition filed by some citizens in which they sought rehabilitation of the Jahangir Park and removal of encroachments from it.
In Monday’s hearing, KMC’s counsel stated that City Administrator Sajjad Hussain Abbasi had suspended nine officers of 17, 18, and 19 grades for delaying implementation of the SHC’s order regarding removal of encroachments from the park.
KMC’s counsel stated that they wanted to comply with the court’s order but needed some time for this purpose. The court directed KMC to remove the encroachments from the historical park within seven days.
Earlier, the court had ordered removal of the encroachments from the park and shifting of five KMC employees living in the Park to Korangi’s Taj Mustafa Colony but KMC failed to do so.
KMC administrator, on October 30, suspended nine officers over negligence in the removal of encroachments from the Jahangir Park. The suspended officers include Director Land Aqeel Baig (BPS-18), Director Land Anti-Encroachment Mazhar Khan (BPS-19), Land Anti-Encroachment Korangi Additional Director Mueen Ghori (BPS-18), Anti-Encroachment Korangi Deputy Director Asif Jatha (BPS-17), Director Estate Mohammad Munir (BPS-18), Additional Director Estate Sohail Qaimkhani (BPS-18), Deputy Director Estate Kaleem Abbas (BPS-18), Deputy Director Estate Akmal Dar (BPS-18) and Deputy Director Estate Mohammad Irshad (BPS-18).
The petitioners submitted that the park had historical importance, but that now it had become a haven for drug abusers due to the negligence of the relevant administration.
The petition said that minibus and rickshaw stands had been established in the park, ruining its beauty. “Encroachments, fruit stalls and pushcarts around the park have ruined the park’s beauty,” the petitioners submitted.
The petitioners prayed to the court to direct the administration to remove encroachments, minibus stands and other obstacles from the land around the park. They requested the court that the park should be developed again. The court was further requested to direct the concerned authorities to rehabilitate the park and remove encroachments from it so that it could be used for public recreation once again.
The Jahangir Park has historical importance as it was gifted to Karachiites in 1893 by a Parsi philanthropist, Khan Behramjee.
