Court tells DHA to remove barricades from roads

Authority’s counsel submits compliance report; petitioner says few streets still blocked

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) to remove the barriers from more streets on the petition against blocking the right of way.

A two-member bench consisting of Justice Yusuf Ali Saeed and Justice Mohammad Abdul Rahman heard the petition against blocking of the streets by DHA.

The authority’s counsel submitted the implementation report on the earlier order of the court. The counsel submitted that barriers and obstructions were removed from all the streets and roads of DHA.

However, the petitioner’s counsel stated that despite the court orders, the DHA did not remove the barricades from the two points - 13th East Street in Phase I DHA and the service road along the main Korangi Road.

The petitioner claimed that DHA officials have parked vehicles on Korangi service road. Furthermore, an island was being built on storm drain land on 15th Street.

All over the DHA, drains are being constructed to drain rainwater. But the 15th Street storm drain was being blocked with reinforced cement pillars.

DHA’s counsel submitted that that was a different matter. Blockades have been removed from DHA streets on court orders.

The court also ordered to open the way for the public by removing the obstructions from more streets. Further hearing was adjourned for two weeks.

Cantonment Board Malir

SHC has sent notifications to the parties on the Cantonment Board Malir motion to stop the collection of property taxes from the Tipu Sultan Society.

Petitioner’s counsel stated that the Cantonment Board Malir sent a notice for unpaid property taxes, though the board does not have jurisdiction over Tipu Sultan Society. The provinces now have the authority to collect property taxes after the outcome of the 18th Amendment.

The court issued notices to the Cantonment Board Malir and other parties.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2023.