Did not order demolition of residential properties during anti-encroachment drive: CJP

Law will be implemented under all circumstances, says Justice Nisar

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on Tuesday said the court had not ordered the demolition of residential properties during the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in the metropolis, Express News reported.

During a hearing regarding the case at the Supreme Court's Karachi registry, Justice Nisar said the law is being implemented through the drive and it will be implemented under all circumstances.

When Mayor Waseem Akhtar said the apex court order is being implemented but houses should not be demolished, the chief justice replied that demolition of residential properties was not ordered by the court.

Agreeing with the court, Attorney General of Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan said that it is the collective desire to see betterment in the port city.

"Karachi faces many major issues, public property is encroached upon and we gave an order to clear all encroachments," said the AGP.

Referring to the earlier case of vacating illegally occupied government housing in Karachi, the AGP said the provincial governor had called him after a law and order situation arose in the city as occupants started protesting against the eviction order, "should we leave the encroaches alone then?"



He further asked if the state should bow down to the 'encroachment mafia'. The provincial advocate general had asked for four weeks to find a solution to the issue.

During the hearing, the mayor also added that he was monitoring the anti-encroachment drive 'personally'.



Instructing all the stakeholders to resolve issues among themselves, the chief justice said the mayor had assured the apex court that only shops and structures are being demolished.

The top judge also instructed the federal and provincial governments and the mayor to discuss the matters. Justice Ijazul Hasan remarked that the operation should continue, adding that "if the momentum is interrupted then it would be difficult to complete the task".