The Supreme Court on Monday took to task the Sindh government, Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, K-Electric and others over the sorry state of affairs in the metropolis, ordering the removal of all billboards in the provincial capital.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, was hearing a suo motu case pertaining to the presence of hazardous billboards in the city at the SC Karachi registry.
In the recent monsoon spell in which over a dozen people lost their lives in Karachi, clips were circulating on social media showing billboards falling on commuters on the road and injuring them.
The court directed Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Ali Shallwani to remove all billboards, including those on private properties as well as advertising material on poles.
During the proceedings, the CJP asked where the mayor was, observing that he regularly complained about lack of authority. “If the Karachi mayor did not have authority, he should go home and vacate the seat.”
CJ Gulzar remarked that the Sindh government and local authorities appear to be hostile towards Karachi.
The CJP also lashed out at KE.
“Ten people die of electrocution every day, but the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority is not taking action,” he said, adding that the responsible KE officials should be booked and their names put on the Exit Control List.
KCR restoration
The top court has directed officials to ensure that the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) becomes operational this year.
The CJP expressed displeasure when the railways secretary stated that the KCR track was nearly cleared.
“The deadline given [for the KCR’s restoration] has expired. Why has it not been restored?” he asked. The railways secretary replied that there were some obstructions due to the Green Line bus rapid transit project.
The court ordered the completion of underpasses, flyovers, fencing and other work related to the KCR within the stipulated time.
Encroachments in the city
The apex court ordered Commissioner Shallwani to raze the building of a private school as well as houses built on the Kidney Hill Park land.
The court was apprised that the houses on site were not in the master plan.
The bench directed Shallwani to raze the houses and school building, and submit a report after vacating the land. “The allottees can contact the relevant authorities for a refund.”
The court, while hearing a case regarding removal of encroachments on Sharae Quaideen, directed the authorities to restore the green belt along the thoroughfare within a month.
The bench directed the authorities to remap Lines Area by constructing high-rise buildings and settling citizens there.
Moreover, the bench ordered the allottees of Sea Breeze Plaza to submit Rs50 million for the retrofitting of the building after the National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) officials apprised the court that the task would require around Rs500 million.
In another hearing, the CJP ordered the Karachi Gymkhana management to stop construction and renovation on its premises and sought a report from Shallwani.
The orders came after the advocate-general apprised the court that illegal construction over there was in full swing in violation of the court orders and laws pertaining to heritage sites.
Further, the bench directed authorities to remove illegal encroachments from Civil Aviation Authority land in Clifton and also construct a park on the CAA land near airport. The court sought a report from the CAA in this regard.
Separately, the court granted a three-month extension for demolishing the Royal Park Residency building.
The allottees’ counsel moved the court to direct the authorities to issue refunds as well as profit. The bench issued notices to the relevant authorities in this regard.
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