Karachi Mayor Wasim Akthar. PHOTO:PPI
A three-member headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar took up the matter of never-ending menace of encroachments all over the city especially on busy roads and footpaths.
Punjab CM says encroachment drive isn’t against the poor
While hearing the matter on Friday, the bench, which also comprised Justice Musheer Alam and Justice Muneeb Akhtar, had summoned officials of the cantonment boards and Rangers to constitute a task force to help the local administration in retrieving the spaces occupied by encroachers throughout the metropolis.
Justice Nisar said that no permission is needed as the court's order is present. The top judge asked Karachi Additional IG Ameer Sheikh to share his plan on how to end encroachments. Sheikh assured of full cooperation.
Mayor Wasim Akhtar said that 70% of Empress Market had been cleared of encroachments, upon which the CJP ordered that the surrounding area must also be cleared. The mayor assured that all of Saddar will be cleaned.
The court ordered the cantonment boards and Rangers to cooperate with the administration. The CJP directed all encroachments from footpaths should also be cleared.
Akhtar said that welfare organisations feed the poor on footpaths to which the CJP said that an alternative place be provided to these organisations. During the proceedings, senior lawyer Advocate Masroor said that Muttahida Quami Movement leaders Babar Ghauri and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui have sold North Nazimabad. Akhtar remarked that they would have to go to a foreign country to catch Ghauri.
The CJP remarked that Akhtar has been tasked with cleaning the city. The court gave 15 days' time to the joint team to remove encroachments.
Zulfiqarabad Oil Terminal
Meanwhile, the SC sought in two weeks an action plan to be implemented for the completion of the Zulfiqarabad Oil Terminal.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Nisar heard the matter at the SC Karachi registry. The CJP asked if the SC was so weak that it could not get others to follow its orders. Addressing Oil Tankers Owners Association President Mohsin Shahani, Justice Nisar said the apex court is the highest and strongest institution. The counsel for the oil marketing companies argued that work on the oil pipeline had begun and six months were needed for completion.
Media talk
Speaking to the media outside court, the mayor said that responsibility has been given to him to hold talks with the oil terminal. "Talks have to be held regarding shifting the oil terminal outside the city," the mayor said.
Akhtar said the CJP had issued an order to remove encroachments. "A model area will be created in Karachi that will be free of encroachments and we have chosen Empress Market for this purpose," the mayor said, adding that Empress Market will be cleared of all encroachments.
He claimed that all the streets under the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation will also be cleared of encroachments.
Akhtar said that so far no course of action has been planned with regards to an alternative place for the peddlers who use wheel carts.
The case of low quality milk
The apex court disposed off the case regarding the sale of low quality milk in boxes after the basic ingredient of the brand Millac turned out to be milk.
A hearing of the sale of low quality milk in boxes took place before a three-member bench, headed by the CJP.
The CJ inquired whether brands were writing on the boxes if the product is milk or not. The court's assistant informed that according to some reports, Millac is selling dry milk and the pack doesn't mention that the product is not milk.
"Where are the Millac representatives? They must tell why they approached me through a recommendation?" the CJP questioned.
CJP takes notice of encroachments on Kalash land
During this time, the Millac owner appeared in court. The CJP remarked that he [the owner] must apologise in court.
Addressing the owner, Justice Nisar said, "You are my brother-in-law by relation but why did you ask for a favour? It has become a disease in this country to ask for favours."
On the orders of the CJP, the Millac owner apologised. The CJP remarked that this case will be solved on merit.
The court disposed of the case on Millac's basic service being milk.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2018.
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