SC summons mayor, others on plea to clear Nehr-e-Khayam
Wraps up another plea after AG says permission for commercial activity on military land cancelled
Supreme Court of Pakistan. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
The Supreme Court (SC) wrapped up on Friday the case regarding commercial activity on military land near Do Talwar in Karachi, after it was informed by the Attorney-General that the permission for commercial activity had been cancelled.
A two-member-bench, headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, was hearing the plea pertaining to constructions on military land near Do Talwar.
A day earlier, the court had summoned a report from the attorney-general regarding the implementation of its orders. AG Khan submitted the report in court on Friday, in which he maintained that they were cancelling the permission for commercial activity on the said land. He also assured the court that the commercial construction of any kind would not be allowed on the land, which would be used for the correct purposes.
60,000 acres of Sindh govt land encroached upon, minister told
The court concluded the plea after taking on record the AG's statement. The plea had originally been filed by residents of the area, who had complained that two acres of land had been allotted for commercial purposes.
Nehr-e-Khayam
The same bench issued notices to Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Sindh Advocate-General and others in a case for protection of parks and removal of illegal occupants from Nehr-e-Khayam - a storm water drain in the city's upscale Clifton area.
The two-member bench was hearing the plea filed by a private organisation at the Supreme Court's Karachi registry. The petitioner's counsel argued that more than 12 schools and other businesses, including Indus Academy, Humayun Studios, Arts Bar and others were being run on residential plots in Clifton.
The illegal occupation from Nehar-e-Khayam hadn't been removed yet, adding that at least the government plots, which haven't been illegally occupied yet, should be protected. The parks and grounds could be protected from being occupied by planting trees and greenery, the counsel argued.
The court issued notices to Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhter, Sindh Advocate-General and others after hearing the arguments and sought replies from the parties.
Building ownership dispute
The SC directed the Board of Revenue's (BoR) senior member to complete their investigations within a month regarding the dispute over the ownership of Moosa Building located on Akbar Road.
The counsel, representing Irfan who claims to be the owner of the building, argued that his client had bought the building in 2010, while the same was leased in 2015 through his fake signatures and CNIC. The building has 33 residential apartments and 18 shops. The sub-ordinate courts have also announced the verdict in his favour.
The BoR's senior member asked for one month's time to carry out the investigations. The court accepted his request and ordered him to submit the report within a month.
Bail granted
In a separate case, the same bench accepted the bail plea of Fazal Mola, who was accused of smuggling 250 kilograms of Hashish. The court ordered the accused Fazal Mola to submit Rs500,000 as surety.
The accused's counsel, Advocate Shaukat Hayat, argued that the case hadn't proceeded for the last five years, and he should therefore be released on bail. The accused, Mola, was arrested five years ago from Landhi.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2019.
The Supreme Court (SC) wrapped up on Friday the case regarding commercial activity on military land near Do Talwar in Karachi, after it was informed by the Attorney-General that the permission for commercial activity had been cancelled.
A two-member-bench, headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, was hearing the plea pertaining to constructions on military land near Do Talwar.
A day earlier, the court had summoned a report from the attorney-general regarding the implementation of its orders. AG Khan submitted the report in court on Friday, in which he maintained that they were cancelling the permission for commercial activity on the said land. He also assured the court that the commercial construction of any kind would not be allowed on the land, which would be used for the correct purposes.
60,000 acres of Sindh govt land encroached upon, minister told
The court concluded the plea after taking on record the AG's statement. The plea had originally been filed by residents of the area, who had complained that two acres of land had been allotted for commercial purposes.
Nehr-e-Khayam
The same bench issued notices to Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Sindh Advocate-General and others in a case for protection of parks and removal of illegal occupants from Nehr-e-Khayam - a storm water drain in the city's upscale Clifton area.
The two-member bench was hearing the plea filed by a private organisation at the Supreme Court's Karachi registry. The petitioner's counsel argued that more than 12 schools and other businesses, including Indus Academy, Humayun Studios, Arts Bar and others were being run on residential plots in Clifton.
The illegal occupation from Nehar-e-Khayam hadn't been removed yet, adding that at least the government plots, which haven't been illegally occupied yet, should be protected. The parks and grounds could be protected from being occupied by planting trees and greenery, the counsel argued.
The court issued notices to Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhter, Sindh Advocate-General and others after hearing the arguments and sought replies from the parties.
Building ownership dispute
The SC directed the Board of Revenue's (BoR) senior member to complete their investigations within a month regarding the dispute over the ownership of Moosa Building located on Akbar Road.
The counsel, representing Irfan who claims to be the owner of the building, argued that his client had bought the building in 2010, while the same was leased in 2015 through his fake signatures and CNIC. The building has 33 residential apartments and 18 shops. The sub-ordinate courts have also announced the verdict in his favour.
The BoR's senior member asked for one month's time to carry out the investigations. The court accepted his request and ordered him to submit the report within a month.
Bail granted
In a separate case, the same bench accepted the bail plea of Fazal Mola, who was accused of smuggling 250 kilograms of Hashish. The court ordered the accused Fazal Mola to submit Rs500,000 as surety.
The accused's counsel, Advocate Shaukat Hayat, argued that the case hadn't proceeded for the last five years, and he should therefore be released on bail. The accused, Mola, was arrested five years ago from Landhi.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2019.