SC irked at illegal constructions

Hearing the case pertaining to payment of compensation to the affected residents of Royal Park Residency on Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed the relevant authorities to immediately take over the Creek Side Shopping Mall project and complete the demolition of Royal Park Residency within a month.

Where did the owners of Royal Park Residency flee to when they have other projects in Karachi, inquired the bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed.

The counsel representing the affected residents informed the court that one of the partners of the residential project is in London and the other is in Dubai. He further informed the court that another project of theirs - the Creek Side Shopping Mall - is being constructed in Defence Housing Authority.

Following this, CJP Ahmed directed the relevant authorities to construct a park on the land of the Royal Park Residency after demolition, if the government does not need the land.

The relevant authorities were further directed to take over the land where the Creek Side Shopping Centre is being constructed and suspend the process of its sale and purchase.

The bench also directed the city commissioner to complete demolition of the Royal Park Residency within a month and instructed the Sindh Building Control Authority to assist the city commissioner in the process.

Plea disposed of

Separately, the bench disposed of the plea pertaining to illegal occupation on Evacuee Trust Property Board's (ETPB) land.

The ETPB counsel contended that 22 acres of land Gujro Deh at Super Highway has been illegally occupied.

CJP Ahmed observed that the ETPB has authority over this and can take action against illegal occupation on their land. To which, the counsel replied that the ETPB is dependent on the police for it.

"What should we do then? Should we baton charge the illegal occupants personally?" asked the CJP.

The ETPB counsel claimed that everything was being done with the permission of the provincial government as cases are booked against his clients if they attempt to take action.

Asking whether they were more powerful than the state, the court directed the ETPB counsel to take action against illegal occupation on their land according to the law and approach the relevant forum to resolve the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2020.