Court says stay order against demolition of katchi abadis in federal capital to remain effective
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday ordered the federal and provincial governments to provide details of budgets allocated for lower income housing schemes from 2001 to 2015.
Supreme Court’s three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja asked the federal and provincial governments what steps they had taken to implement articles 9, 14, 25 and 38 of the constitution of Pakistan.
The court said that its August 26 order restraining the capital administration from taking any adverse action similar to the July-30 bulldozing of Sector I-11 Katchi Abadi would remain effective.
The Supreme Court took up a petition moved by senior counsel Abid Hassan Minto and his son Bilal Minto seeking a declaration that under the constitution the state was obligated to provide shelter and other amenities to those evicted from slums.
After receiving the proposals, the court intends to circulate the same among the federal and provincial governments to ascertain their opinions leading to the formulation of a state policy.
The court, during last hearing, had asked the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), former civil servant Siddiqui and all the provinces to come up with a solid, realistic and coordinated housing policy for the shelter-less.
The court ordered LJCP Secretary Mohammad Sarwar Khan to convene a meeting with the petitioners and their counsel as well as the respondents and the advocates general of four provinces in addition to Siddiqui and suggest proposals on how the fundamental rights of the citizens could be ensured.
