SHC orders removal of illegal cattle market in Lyari

Antiquities dept DG apologises to bench in contempt of court plea

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court directed on Monday the West deputy commissioner (DC) to remove the illegal cattle market established in Lyari.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Khadim Hussain M Shaikh and Justice Arshad Hussain Khan, was hearing the plea against the establishment of the cattle market on the road in Lyari.

The petitioner's counsel maintained that the cattle market at Bakra Piri was under a private contractor, Shabbir alias Kaalu, and was still operational despite judicial orders regarding its removal.

The Kalakot and Pak Colony police presented reports regarding the illegal cattle market. According to the former's report, the police were trying to trace Shabbir, while the Pak Colony police maintained that Bakra Piri did not fall under their jurisdiction.

When the court inquired why the market had not yet been removed, the counsel representing the West district municipal corporation claimed it had been removed.

"Were the pictures published in the newspapers fake then?" asked the court. In response, the counsel requested the court to grant them some time to confirm the facts regarding the market's presence.

The petitioner's counsel remarked that the administration wanted to get through the Eidul Azha season by acquiring extensions.

The court directed the West DC to remove the market and sought a report from the parties by July 29.

Court seeks counter-reply

A single-member bench, comprising Justice Agha Faisal, directed the petitioner's counsel to submit a counter-reply against the reply submitted by the accused in a contempt of court plea.

The court was hearing the plea against the Sindh Antiquities Department and other parties, pertaining to construction in Karachi Gymkhana (KG).

In the plea, the KG administration maintained that the court had allowed them to continue construction on the premises but the antiquities department and other authorities were putting pressure on them to stop.

Sindh Antiquities Department director-general Manzoor Kanasro, section officer Muhammad Khan Bhingwar and South DC appeared in court, apologising before the bench and maintaining that they had not violated the judicial orders deliberately. Claiming that they respected the court, they moved the bench to accept their apology.

The court directed the KG administration to submit a counter-reply at the next hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2020.