SC summons reports from sessions judges in billboards case

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Px31-038 KARACHI: Aug02 – Workers seen loading signboards removed Hassan Square after the orders of Supreme Court. ONLINE PHOTO by Syed Asif Ali

The Supreme Court on Tuesday required reports from the sessions judges in a month in billboards clearance case.

The Karachi Registry of the Supreme Court heard the case during which cantonment authorities filed their comments.

The authorities’ concerned stated in reports that all billboards were cleared from the public property to which Justice Amir Hani Muslim responded that the court received around 15 to 20 complaints from locals opposing the claim. The hoardings were still in place in Zamzama and other areas, the court quoted letters.

The advocate general replied that billboards in Zamzama and other areas were removed late at night at around 03:00 am. On Justice Muslim’s question over DMC East’s report about hoardings in place in different areas, the advocate general said it was a typing mistake which had been corrected in report that followed.

All cantonment boards and SITE association had fully complied with the court’s order whereas billboards in the city were neither fixed on public property nor on the road and the court should also chalk out a policy for them, the advocate general said.

However, the court summoned reports from sessions judges on the next hearing.

The attorney general urged the court to also order mobile companies to remove their towers to which Justice Muslim responded that billboards resisted the air flow posing danger to the public at large whereas towers did not block the air.