SC seeks estimate for houses for nullahs' afectees

People evicted from banks of Gujjar, Mahmoodabad, Orangi nullahs stage protest

KARACHI:

The Supreme Court has directed the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) to provide a cost estimate for the construction of a house on an 80-yard plot intended for the affectees of Orangi Nullah, Mahmoodabad Nullah, and Gujjar Nullah.

Additionally, the court has summoned the Chief Secretary of Sindh for the next hearing.

The court issued this ruling while hearing the petitions of the evacuees and a contempt of court plea against the Sindh chief minister.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan conducted the hearing at the Supreme Court's Karachi Registry.

During the proceedings, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar inquired from the evacuees' lawyers about a protest staged outside the registry despite the distribution of rehabilitation summaries and checks, emphasising the priority given to the case hearing. The lawyers explained that although checks had been distributed, the issue of plot allotment to the affectees remained unresolved.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar expressed displeasure over the absence of the Advocate General of Sindh and warned that the chief minister might be summoned if the Advocate General and Chief Secretary failed to appear by 11am.

Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, Advocate General Sindh, and Secretary Local Government appeared in compliance with the court's order.

The Sindh government submitted an implementation report to the court, detailing plans to provide 80-yard houses to 6,930 victims and distribute checks of Rs1 million per affected household.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar highlighted the issue of the construction estimate not being approved by the PEC. The chief secretary mentioned a construction cost of Rs1 million for a hose on an 80-yard plot, while the victims' lawyer cited an estimate of Rs3.7 million from the PEC.

The court ordered the submission of a construction estimate approved by the PEC by April 8. It directed the Sindh Chief Secretary to appear at the next hearing and emphasized the importance of adhering to the court's directives for the welfare of the affected individuals.

Protest

People evicted from the banks of the Orangi Nullah, Mahmoodabad Nullah, and Gujjar Nullah staged protest outside the SC Karachi Registry. The protestors were holding placards and banners in their hands. The affected individuals demanded justice from the Supreme Court of Pakistan. They stated that a promise was made four years ago to provide them with alternative housing in place of their homes demolished during the anti-encroachment operation, but despite promises and claims, they have still not been provided with homes. Tight security arrangements were made on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2024.