Eidul Azha preparations: Residents want court to stay cattle market

Market impedes traffic flow, is cause of poor sanitation in Ghanwar Khan Gabol Goth

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Monday notices to the provincial government and chief executive officer of the Malir Cantonment Board on a petition against the establishment of a market for sacrificial animals.

The bench also directed the provincial law officer, as well as the cantonment board’s CEO to file comments in this regard by July 22.

These directives came on a petition filed by the residents of the Ghanwar Khan Gabol Goth, who took the provincial and local government and Malir Cantonment Board authorities to court. The petitioners said that every year a temporary market is set up in Ghanwar Khan Gabol Goth on the Super Highway by the local government and cantonment authorities for the sale of sacrificial animals ahead of Eidul Azha.

They argued that the market is set up at the entry and exit points of the locality, which causes difficulties for residents. They claimed that proper arrangements for security and sanitation are not made by the officials, which exposes the residents to filth and terrible traffic jams.



The judges were told that applications were sent last year to the Karachi commissioner, who had promised them that appropriate measures would be taken to address their problems. However, the petitioners alleged that this year the official respondents had again allowed the establishment of the market and no corrective measures had been taken.

The petitioners apprehended that once again they will have to face inconvenience due to improper arrangements for traffic and sanitation. Therefore, the court was pleaded to direct the respondents not to set up the market at the entry and exit points of the residential locality. It was further requested to direct them to ensure proper sanitation and traffic arrangements so that the residents will not facing any difficulty.

After hearing initial arguments, the judges issued notices to the provincial chief secretary, the local government secretary, the Karachi commissioner and CEO of the Malir Cantonment Board to file their comments by July 22.