SHC takes notice of land grabbing by foreigners

Justice Rizvi remarks some localities in KDA Scheme 33 have become no-go areas

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has rejected the report submitted by the deputy commissioner, east, on a petition seeking retrieval of land belonging to a private society in Scheme 33 and directed to complete the operation against the foreign land grabbers within 45 days.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi heard the petition.

Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi remarked that Scheme 33 has been turned into a no-go area while huge land beyond Sohrab Goth has been occupied illegally by foreigners.

The lawyer stated that the petition against the illegal occupation of the land of Bijnor Housing Society is under hearing.

Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi asked, "What the authorities are doing if criminal elements are hiding in the illegally occupied land."

The deputy commissioner said that the help of police and rangers is required to carry out the anti-encroachment operation.

The court remarked, "You have your own informers, what are they doing?"

Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi inquired, "How many calls the deputy commissioner received and if he is under any pressure? Who is supporting these 500 land grabbers?"

The court remarked, people invest their lifetime savings on plots and they hope to get the possession of their plots.

The deputy commissioner urged the court to allowe two-month time. The court remarked that what will you do in these two months? Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi remarked that in our times, one SDM alone used to control everything. What your people are doing with big teams? If the society land is not protected, the state will not do anything?

The deputy commissioner replied that action is being taken but no progress has been made, however, a report has been submitted.

The court rejected the report of deputy commissioner and directed him to carry out an operation for retrieval of society's land within 45 days.

The court also ordered to take the assistance of police and rangers and carry out the operation.

SHC orders govt to fix prices of painkillers

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the federation to submit a report after fixing the prices of fever and pain medicines in a cabinet meeting before the next hearing of a contempt petition filed by a company.

The counsel for the federal government and representatives of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) appeared in the court.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that fever and pain relieving medicines are purchased in the US dollar, which has appreciated exponentially but the price of the tablet remains unchanged.

DRAP officials said that it is necessary to get approval from the federal government to increase the medicine prices. The federal government’s representative said that drug prices were not discussed in the last cabinet meeting.

The court directed the federal government to take a decision on the prices in the cabinet meeting before the next hearing. The court remarked that it was allowing four-week time for the exercise.

The court ordered the counsel for the federal government to submit a report on the cabinet decision before the next hearing.

The court had earlier directed the federal government to consider increasing the prices. A pharmaceutical company filed a contempt petition for the government’s reluctance to increase the prices.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2022.