Restore parks, orders SC

Sindh govt told to provide monthly report on nullah victims' rehabilitation

KARACHI:

The Supreme Court, while issuing a written verdict in the encroachment case, ordered the immediate restoration of playgrounds and parks across the city.

It ordered that they be returned to their original form and the court also sought details of welfare plots across Karachi.

The apex court also termed the report of Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab as unsatisfactory and directed the activation of a tribunal against the encroachments and to file cases.

In the written verdict, the apex court said that playgrounds and parks across the city should be restored to their original form immediately.

All facilities should be provided to the citizens in parks and playgrounds. The written decision stated that Wahab had said in his statement that 9,500 shops of KMC have been rented at very low prices. KMC huts on Hawke's Bay were also rented at a much lower rate.

The Supreme Court directed the Karachi administrator to provide full details of all the shops.

The apex court has also ordered immediate restoration of the Gutter Baghicha Park to its original condition. "Corruption has taken an administrative form in Sindh. All legal means should be exercised to eradicate corruption," the court remarked.

The SC has also directed the administrator Karachi to approach the tribunal against the encroachments. The Supreme Court has sought a report from Administrator Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab in the encroachment case within two weeks.

Nullah victims The Supreme Court, while issuing a written order for the hearing on October 25, sought a report from the Sindh government every month with photographs on the rehabilitation of nullah victims.

The apex court said that the system of KDA, KMC and other relevant administrative bodies had failed. The hasty transfers of heads of civic bodies have led to poor governance and the transfers have not led to the implementation of policies, it observed.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Ijazul-Ahsan and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed, issued a written order for the October 25 hearing.