SC refuses to extend deadline for removal of illegal billboards

Authorities to remove all hoardings by June 30

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court refused on Wednesday to extend the deadline for removal of illegal billboards and hoardings in Karachi city.

The apex court’s three judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Anwar Zaheer Jamali, has maintained its earlier order, wherein the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and all the cantonment boards were directed to remove these billboards and hoardings across the city by June 30.

The bench had ordered that no billboard or hoarding will be permitted to be installed on any public property.

Private advertising companies, which went to court to seek extension in the deadline for removal of their billboards, contended that the money, which they have collected, has been spent on the construction of bridges.

During the hearing on Wednesday, the bench also expressed apprehension over the Public Private Partnership Act 2010, which enables private sector to participate in infrastructure development projects in the province.



The CJP remarked that every year in monsoon season, hundreds of people die due to billboards destruction and every such act is referred to as the will of the Almighty.

Another member of the bench, Justice Amir Hani Muslim, remarked that there is nothing more important than human life, adding that they cannot give licence to kill people. He also said that when the court had passed order then the number of hoardings was 5,000 but the number has been increased 8,000.

Advocate Rashid A Rizvi appeared on behalf of two private companies. Later, the bench allowed those companies to become party in this case. The hearing of case will be fixed after the month of July.

Case history

Earlier, the bench had ordered that the hoardings, which have been installed on public property, shall be uprooted by June 30 by the advertising agencies, which own the poles or displaying materials, or by the contractors, if they own such material, or by the authorities under whose permission the billboards have been installed. The court had also explained in detail as to what type of property will come under the definition of 'public property'.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2016.