Apex court orders removal of houses from PECHS greenbelt

The petition of the residents of the Pakistan Engineers Cooperative Housing Society (PECHS) Block-6 against a K-Electric grid station on an amenity plot backfired on them when the top court declared that their houses were also constructed on a greenbelt and should be demolished.

In a major development, the Supreme Court has ordered to completely clear the green belt of PECHS Block-6, and demolish all houses and other structures.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed heard a petition in the Supreme Court Karachi Registry against K-Electric regarding construction of grid station on green belt in PECHS.

Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, in his remarks, inquired the petitioners' counsel, "Are your houses also constructed on the green belt?" Shua-un-Nabi, counsel for the petitioners, stated that his case was not as such. "Our case is that the society gave the amenity plot to K-Electric," the counsel argued.

Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked angrily, "Did you come to the court with clean hands? Even your own houses are constructed on the green belt."

The chief justice asked who appeared on behalf of the PECHS. The court remarked that K-Electric was running a private business and should relocate its grid station elsewhere. "Residents also did not come with clean hands so their houses should also be demolished."

The Supreme Court has ordered to restore the park to its original condition on the amenity plot in Block-6. The court also issued notices to K-Electric, residents and PECHS society and adjourned the hearing till next date.

The power utility said in a statement, "with reference to the recent news reports about K-Electric Mehmoodabad Grid Station Case, the Honourable Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal on the ground that the petitioners have come to the court with unclean hands as the petitioners are themselves residing on the greenbelt.

However, the K-E press release said, the appeal was converted into a Suo Moto Proceedings and notices were issued to all concerned stakeholders including K-Electric. "The company awaits the notice issued by the Honorable Supreme Court to summon it for the next hearing where it will present its legal stance. As a responsible corporate company, K-Electric respects the Honorable Court and is fully committed to follow its orders," it said.

Askari Park

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the KMC Municipal Commissioner on the application for commercial use of Askari Park at Old Sabzi Mandi. A bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulza Ahmed and comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed heard the petition on the commercial use of Askari Park at Old Sabzi Mandi.

The petitioner said that illegal shops were being set up in Askari Park. Building a bazaar in the park violates the law and the agreement, while the park administration has illegally set up a wedding hall.

He said that at the time when the vegetable and fruit market was removed from the area, the park administration had agreed to plant 27,000 trees in the park. However, there are not even 100 trees in the park. The chief justice remarked that this agreement also looks fake.

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