SHC seeks details of land reserved for bus terminals
SHC questions the inconsistency in land measurement
SHC questions the inconsistency in land measurement, which is shown as 500 acres in some places, 150 and 50 acres in others . PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court sought on Wednesday the complete details of the land of out of city bus terminals while hearing the plea filed for the restriction on the movement of heavy traffic in Karachi.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Agha Faisal heard the plea.
According to the report submitted by transport secretary, Daewoo Company will construct separate bus terminals for the new buses and advertisements have been published for inter-city terminals.
The representative of Karachi commissioner informed the court that 100 acres of land has been handed over to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).
KMC's counsel maintained that KMC does not have enough resources for development as all the resources have been taken by Sindh government.
The court expressed annoyance over the absence of senior member of the Board of Revenue.
The counsel said that the senior member was appointed on Tuesday and he had not taken charge as yet [by Wednesday] which is why he could not appear before the court.
The court remarked that the commissioner appears before the court, the mayor appears before the court then what was the issue with the senior member appearing. Is there a ritual that needs to be performed to take charge, asked the court.
The court expressed concern over the contradictory statements of different departments which referred to the area of land as 500 acres in some places, 150 and 50 acres in others.
The court said that it should be stated as to how much land has been reserved at Northern Bypass, West district and National Highway.
Hearing was adjourned till June 19.
Missing persons
SHC sought a report pertaining to over 100 missing persons on Wednesday from Sindh Rangers Director General, Sindh Inspector General Police (IGP) and Interior ministry secretary.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Naimatullah Phulputo and Justice KK Agha heard the set of petitions filed by families of more than 100 missing persons for their safe recovery. The families cried before the bench for the recovery of their loved ones.
Mother of a missing person stated before the court that police officers, Jan Muhammad and Raja Tariq, were involved in the disappearance of her son, Jameel. "Both policemen demanded Rs50,000 for his recovery," she said.
The court directed Karachi police chief to conduct an inquiry against both the officers.
"Third Eid has come, but my husband could not be recovered. I will commit suicide if my husband is not recovered" said the wife of another missing person. "My parents are also fed up with feeding me and my daughter. I will burn myself if my husband is not recovered," she pleaded.
"Do not be depressed, your husband will return soon now as missing persons are returning home," remarked Justice Phulputo.
The bench remarked that on Wednesday it had a report that some missing persons were likely to return to their homes.
Justice Phulputo censured the investigation officer (IO) of the cases. What progress has been made in the investigation so far, asked Justice Phulputo.
Referring to the IO, the bench said that the same reports were produced in every hearing while the families of the missing persons were worrying.
Advocate Aslam Javed asked the court to issue orders that Rs50,000 be given to the families of missing persons who could feed their children. Javed said that the missing persons, Nasir, Faiz and Muaaz, were supposedly said to be in detention centres of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
SHC seeks details of debate in Sindh Assembly on police law
"If the suspects could be brought through Interpol from foreign countries then why are these suspects not brought from one province to another," said the counsel.
The bench directed relevant authorities to submit an updated report pertaining to the recovery of missing persons by August 22.
Later, the bench adjourned hearing till August 22.
Illegal commercial activities
SHC adjourned the hearing indefinitely of the plea filed against commercial activities in residential buildings after the submission of counter affidavit by the petitioner.
A two-member-bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Agha Faisal heard the plea.
The petitioner submitted the counter affidavit in court which mentioned that notifications were reissued to stop commercial activities in Lines Area on April 24. The plea maintained that KMC was establishing encroachments instead of removing them. Bill boards and hoardings are being put up in the residential area again.
The court adjourned hearing indefinitely.
Karachi Development Authority (KDA) director-general submitted a written reply on the last hearing which maintained that no residential building in any area was allowed to be used for commercial purposes.
The plea argued that bill boards and hoardings were put up again three months after their removal on the orders of Supreme Court. The court passed orders to stop commercial activities in the residential buildings of Lines Area but commercial activities are continuing despite the orders.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2019.
The Sindh High Court sought on Wednesday the complete details of the land of out of city bus terminals while hearing the plea filed for the restriction on the movement of heavy traffic in Karachi.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Agha Faisal heard the plea.
According to the report submitted by transport secretary, Daewoo Company will construct separate bus terminals for the new buses and advertisements have been published for inter-city terminals.
The representative of Karachi commissioner informed the court that 100 acres of land has been handed over to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).
KMC's counsel maintained that KMC does not have enough resources for development as all the resources have been taken by Sindh government.
The court expressed annoyance over the absence of senior member of the Board of Revenue.
The counsel said that the senior member was appointed on Tuesday and he had not taken charge as yet [by Wednesday] which is why he could not appear before the court.
The court remarked that the commissioner appears before the court, the mayor appears before the court then what was the issue with the senior member appearing. Is there a ritual that needs to be performed to take charge, asked the court.
The court expressed concern over the contradictory statements of different departments which referred to the area of land as 500 acres in some places, 150 and 50 acres in others.
The court said that it should be stated as to how much land has been reserved at Northern Bypass, West district and National Highway.
Hearing was adjourned till June 19.
Missing persons
SHC sought a report pertaining to over 100 missing persons on Wednesday from Sindh Rangers Director General, Sindh Inspector General Police (IGP) and Interior ministry secretary.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Naimatullah Phulputo and Justice KK Agha heard the set of petitions filed by families of more than 100 missing persons for their safe recovery. The families cried before the bench for the recovery of their loved ones.
Mother of a missing person stated before the court that police officers, Jan Muhammad and Raja Tariq, were involved in the disappearance of her son, Jameel. "Both policemen demanded Rs50,000 for his recovery," she said.
The court directed Karachi police chief to conduct an inquiry against both the officers.
"Third Eid has come, but my husband could not be recovered. I will commit suicide if my husband is not recovered" said the wife of another missing person. "My parents are also fed up with feeding me and my daughter. I will burn myself if my husband is not recovered," she pleaded.
"Do not be depressed, your husband will return soon now as missing persons are returning home," remarked Justice Phulputo.
The bench remarked that on Wednesday it had a report that some missing persons were likely to return to their homes.
Justice Phulputo censured the investigation officer (IO) of the cases. What progress has been made in the investigation so far, asked Justice Phulputo.
Referring to the IO, the bench said that the same reports were produced in every hearing while the families of the missing persons were worrying.
Advocate Aslam Javed asked the court to issue orders that Rs50,000 be given to the families of missing persons who could feed their children. Javed said that the missing persons, Nasir, Faiz and Muaaz, were supposedly said to be in detention centres of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
SHC seeks details of debate in Sindh Assembly on police law
"If the suspects could be brought through Interpol from foreign countries then why are these suspects not brought from one province to another," said the counsel.
The bench directed relevant authorities to submit an updated report pertaining to the recovery of missing persons by August 22.
Later, the bench adjourned hearing till August 22.
Illegal commercial activities
SHC adjourned the hearing indefinitely of the plea filed against commercial activities in residential buildings after the submission of counter affidavit by the petitioner.
A two-member-bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Agha Faisal heard the plea.
The petitioner submitted the counter affidavit in court which mentioned that notifications were reissued to stop commercial activities in Lines Area on April 24. The plea maintained that KMC was establishing encroachments instead of removing them. Bill boards and hoardings are being put up in the residential area again.
The court adjourned hearing indefinitely.
Karachi Development Authority (KDA) director-general submitted a written reply on the last hearing which maintained that no residential building in any area was allowed to be used for commercial purposes.
The plea argued that bill boards and hoardings were put up again three months after their removal on the orders of Supreme Court. The court passed orders to stop commercial activities in the residential buildings of Lines Area but commercial activities are continuing despite the orders.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2019.