SHC questions charged parking on roads

Seeks replies from Traffic DIG, Karachi commissioner, DMCs

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court sought on Wednesday detailed replies on charged parking on roads from the traffic DIG, Karachi commissioner and the district municipal corporations. A two-member bench led by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro expressed annoyance at the collection of parking fee from citizens while hearing a petition against charged parking.

"Parking contracts have been awarded for the city's roads. Collectors of parking fee misbehave with citizens," remarked Justice Kalhoro. "Citizens' dignity is violated in the name of the parking fees."

The court questioned under which law is parking fee charged. Who gave permission for cars to be parked on both sides of roads, asked the bench, observing that illegal parking caused traffic jams in the city.

To this, the commissioner's representative said that there was no law to charge parking fees. Fees is only charged for the repairing of roads, added the representative.

The additional advocate general stated that parking contracts have been issued for parking vehicles on the streets of the city.

The bench remarked that it would not permit extortion from citizens in the name of parking fee.

The bench sought detailed replies from the relevant officials and adjourned the hearing till October 29.

Read More: Construction of six parking plazas halted

Absent edu officials

Another bench, headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh, issued notices to the relevant officials of the Sindh education department over a non-functioning higher secondary school in Mirpur Bathoro, Sujawal district. CJ Shaikh expressed annoyance at the absence of the education secretary and another relevant official despite being issued notices.

During the hearing, the principal of the school submitted a report before the court.

When asked about the number of teachers specialising in science subjects employed at the school, the principal said there were none. All seats are lying vacant and the school is not properly functional, said the principal.

The court issued notices to relevant officials of the education department again and adjourned the hearing till October 25.

Plans sought

Hearing a petition pertaining to encroachments on a nullah on Abul Hasan Isphahani Road, a two-member bench led by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan sought site plans for the nullah in question.

The petitioner's counsel contended that the nullah was encroached upon in connivance with the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation. The counsel said a high-rise building was constructed. He prayed the court to issue directives to restore the nullah.

How can a nullah be leased, questioned the court. Justice Khan asked how a lease could be issued for a building constructed on the nullah. The bench reminded of the Supreme Court's directives in this regard and sought the original site plan for clarity on the matter.

The bench issued a notice to the KMC's land director, seeking his reply by November 14.

Contempt plea

Separately, the court sought a comprehensive reply from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director general by October 30 on a contempt plea pertaining to the demolition of a citizen's wall and bathroom during an anti-encroachment operation.

The court was hearing a contempt plea filed against the SBCA. The petitioner's counsel submitted that his client was a resident of KDA Scheme 36 in Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block-III. A wall, bathroom and valuables inside my client's house were destroyed during an anti-encroachment, said the counsel. He maintained that the petition has been pending since 2019 but no reply has been received by the respondent. The petitioner's counsel moved the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the SBCA DG.

The court sought clarification from the SBCA DG and directed him to submit his reply by October 30.

Bus owners' plea

Meanwhile, the bus owners association filed a petition before the court challenging action taken against illegal bus stands in Sohrab Goth. The petitioners submitted that the police were constantly harassing them. They moved the court to halt the anti-encroachment operation till alternate space is allocated. The home secretary, transport secretary, Sindh IGP, traffic DIG and the East deputy commissioner have been named as respondents.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2021.