KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed District Municipal Corporation (DMC) East and the Anti-Encroachment Cell to remove illegally occupied area by the administration of Imtiaz Super Market for their Bahadurabad branch within 10 days.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, consisting of Justice Kausar Sultana Hussain, was hearing the petition filed by Haroon Rasheed and Sulaiman Moti, the office-bearers of Golden Palm Flat Owner’s Association, who had moved the court against the supermarket for allegedly occupying a footpath and street for commercial purpose.
The petitioners represented by Advocate Nadeem Shaikh submitted that the administration of the market had occupied footpath, street and other parts of the area illegally and unlawfully with the goods, articles and generators and made it very difficult for the residents to move.
During the hearing, the counsel representing the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) confirmed the petitioner’s claim and informed the judges that the super store’s administration had encroached upon the land.
The SBCA informed the judges that a report had already been submitted to the DMC East and the Anti-Encroachment Cell.
“The concerned authorities are directed that if the public streets are encroached upon, then remove it within 10 days and submit a compliance report,” the court ruled.
Earlier, the petitioners said that the superstore had also occupied the street between the store and other buildings and was using the same for its business activities.
“Imtiaz Super Market has acquired many flats in the adjacent area, on ground and first floors, with different names and is using the same for storing items and articles of the supermarket, despite the fact that these apartments are only for the residential purpose,” the petitioners maintained.
They submitted that the superstore had illegally occupied and covered the compulsory open space with external walls, iron grills, metal sheets and other articles against the provision and subsequently blocked the easement rights of the other habitants of the building.