SHC orders razing of illegal structures at Lyari’s park

Seeks reply from Sindh govt over establishment of bachat bazaar in hockey ground

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the relevant authorities on Monday to immediately stop illegal construction on land allotted for Ismail Shaheed Park in Lyari and raze and illegal structures erected on the said land.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Rashida Asad, also issued notices to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director general (DG) and other parties, directing them to take strict action against illegal constructions.

At the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner, Barrister Zia Makhdoom, that the park's boundary wall had been razed, following which illegal structures began to mushroom on the premise.

"Relevant authorities have been informed of the matter, but no action has been taken," he bewailed.

The counsel moved the court to direct the relevant authorities to stop illegal construction on the park's land.

Directing the authorities to stop illegal construction and raze encroachments on the land, the court sought an implementation report from the SBCA DG and other authorities.

Bachat bazaar

The same bench sought a reply from the Sindh government on a plea challenging the establishment of a bachat bazaar in a hockey ground in Dalmia.

At the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner told the court that the high court had declared the establishment of the bazaar at the spot in question illegal.

A copy of the said verdict was submitted to the court by an area resident, Abdur Rehman.

At that, the defence lawyer contended that the government was being taxes on account of the bazaar.

"How can a sports ground be used for commercial activities," inquired Justice Rizvi.

The court then directed the Sindh government to submit a reply on the plea within 10 days.

Field firing range

The same bench sought a reply from the Sindh government on another plea, pertaining to the establishment of a field firing range in the Bin Qasim taluka of Malir district.

At the plea's hearing, the counsel for the petitioner informed the court that the Ministry of Interior had established a field firing range near goths in Bin Qasim taluka.

He argued that a field firing range could not be established near a residential area and moved the court to direct the relevant authorities to shift the field firing range to another area.

Plea filed

Meanwhile, a plea challenging the illegal occupation of Muhammad Shah Graveyard's land in North Karachi was filed in the SHC.

The petitioner stated in the plea that the graveyard covered an area of 109 acres and land mafia "is creating separate small graveyards on its premises."

He moved the court to direct the relevant authorities to take immediate action on the matter.

The Karachi Development Authority DG, municipal commissioner and Karachi commissioner have been nominated as parties in the plea.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2021.