Remove all billboards in a week, orders SC

Larger bench warns of contempt proceedings against violators of its order

KARACHI: Annoyed that its orders have been implemented only half-heartedly, the Supreme Court (SC) warned on Friday the federal, provincial and local administrations of contempt proceedings if billboards continue to dot Karachi's skyline after July 21.

A full bench of the SC, headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim, also ordered the heads of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), all district municipal corporations (DMC), Defence Housing Authority, all cantonment boards and others to appear in person with their respective compliance reports at the next hearing on July 22.



The larger bench, which also comprised justices Gulzar Ahmed, Mushir Alam, Faisal Arab and Khilji Arif Hussain, was hearing a case regarding illegal and unauthorised billboards and hoardings in public spaces in the city.

At the outset of the proceedings, Justice Muslim inquired from the federal and provincial law officers as to which civic agency had not implemented the court's orders, wherein all civic agencies were directed to remove all legally and illegally installed billboards and hoardings from public property by June 30. The judges had even defined what type of spaces came within the term 'public property'.

Additional attorney-general Salman Talibuddin claimed the billboards and hoardings had been pulled down from the public property, while the remaining ones were those installed on private property.

The bench observed, however, observed that there were various areas where only advertising skins had been taken off while the structures were still intact. Referring to the city's main thoroughfare of Sharae Faisal, they said they noticed such billboards still fixed on poles.



Taking serious notice of such conduct on part of the relevant authorities, the bench cautioned that contempt notices would be issued to whosoever is responsible for the non-compliance of the court's order.

"Call the heads of all the civic agencies on the next date," remarked Justice Muslim, adding that on the next date all those responsible for non-compliance of the court's order will be prosecuted for contempt of the court.

However, Talibuddin vowed that the court's order will be complied with in letter and spirit by all the relevant authorities by July 21.

Sindh advocate-general Zamir Ghumro said the Sindh government and/or the other civic agencies have complied with the order. He assured that if there is any portion of the order which has not been complied with, it shall be complied with by July 21.

Adjourning the hearing till July 22, the bench directed the administrators of the KMC and the DMCs, besides those agencies who have not complied with the order, to attend the hearing with their respective reports of compliance.



Original judgment

In its May 5 order, the SC had, after defining in detail what qualifies as 'public' space, observed that "There is no law which permits KMC, DMCs, cantonment boards or any other agency in Karachi to install billboards or hoardings on a public property." Such an act on the part of [the] permission-granting agency is against the civil rights of the citizens, it had observed further.

The SC had also directed Talibuddin and the provincial advocate-general to conduct meetings with all the civic agencies that grant permission for installing such outdoor advertisements to finalise the amendments to the proposed bylaws applicable beyond 'public properties' to achieve city-wide uniformity and ensure safety measures for citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2016.