SHC gives deadline to remove encroachment
PHOTO: FILE
As the anti-encroachment operation in the jurisdictions of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and Qasimabad Municipal Committee plods along sluggishly, the Sindh High Court (SHC) gave a three-week deadline to HMC to clear all the soft encroachment.
The Hyderabad circuit bench of justice Nadeem Akhtar and justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon during the hearing on Tuesday also rejected the progress report submitted by the QMC.
"The statements and progress reports submitted by the municipal commissioner HMC [Fakhir Shakir] and director anti encroachment cell are vague and not satisfactory and as such are rejected," the bench said. Shakir admitted to the bench's query that the corporation is responsible for both removing encroachment and disposing off the debris as well.
The bench noted that it was statutory responsibility of the HMC to also lodge FIRs against the people occupying the public places illegally in its limits and that the MC could not satisfy the court by telling why they failed to register such cases. "... all kinds of soft encroachment such as chairs, tables, showcases, stands, signboards, generators, etc lying at public places and the vehicles of car dealers and mechanics parked on public places should be removed by HMC within seven days," the order reads. The bench noted that the municipal commissioner of HMC has assured that he would register FIRs against the people who resist the drive or continue to occupy the public places. "He undertakes to place on record before this court on the next date of hearing a complete list and details of the FIRs registered by the HMC against the encroachers." The bench directed the DIG and SSP Hyderabad police to provide the required police assistance during the operation to the HMC.
Read More: SC orders removal of all encroachments in Karachi
The court found Shakir unable to explain as to why the debris which accumulated on the roads, footpaths, sidewalks and other places following the drive over the last many months has not been disposed of. The bench gave three weeks to the HMC to remove all sorts of debris. The SHC has summoned the Sindh secretary local government and administrator Qasimabad municipal committee at the next hearing scheduled for November 18.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2021.