SC reserves verdict on demolition of marriage halls

Former AGP argues SBCA rules permit changing residential plot into commercial one

KARACHI:

The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on Friday on a plea filed by the Korangi Marriage Halls Association against the demolition of marriage halls at Korangi Crossing.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Ijazul Hassan and Justice Mazhar Alam, was hearing the plea at the SC Karachi registry.

Former attorney general of Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan, who was arguing the case on behalf of the association, contended that the Sindh Building Control Authority's (SBCA) rules allow the changing of status of residential plot into a commercial one. Therefore, he argued, the marriage halls at Korangi Crossing are legal.

At this, Justice Hassan remarked that everywhere in the world the master plan of a city is made only once and the city remains the same.

Read: SC orders immediate demolition of all illegal marriage halls in Karachi

"Won't changing the status of residential plots create issues of water scarcity and faults in the sewerage system of residential areas," asked the court.

"All of Defence Housing Authority has been turned into a commercial area," remarked CJP Ahmed. The entire city will be transformed into a commercial area if this goes on, he added.

Justice Hassan remarked the city had been altered completely by changing the status of residential plots. The court directed the petitioner's counsel to submit his arguments in writing and reserved its verdict on the plea.

Amenity plots

Hearing another case, the apex court issued notices to the Pakistan Employees Cooperative Housing Society (PECHS) and other relevant authorities over the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's plea pertaining to illegal occupation of amenity plots near Jheel Park.

During the hearing, the KMC's counsel argued that the amenity plots near Jheel Park were being used for residential purposes. This, he contended, was against the law as the status of an amenity plot could not be changed.

The counsel informed the bench that the Sindh High Court had accepted the pleas filed by the allotees. He moved the court to declare the use of amenity plots for residential purposes as illegal.

The court issued notices to PECHS and other relevant bodies, directing them to keep the status of amenity plots as it is.

Read more: SHC extends deadline for demolition drive in Hyd

Dismissed railways employee

Meanwhile, the bench rejected the plea of a former railway department employee against his dismissal over corruption accusations.

The petitioner, Khan Bahadur, pleaded that he did not commit a fraud of Rs20 million and the allegations against him were false. He said that train tickets were transferred to Lahore but he was held responsible for this.

However, Justice Hassan remarked that Bahadur was found guilty when an inquiry was carried out and the inquiry officer had found him responsible for the irregularities.

The court rejected the plea and adjourned the hearing.