SHC gives SBCA 45 days to decide on amenity plot misuse

Separately, court allows three Dawood University students to appear in exam

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday directed the director general (DG) of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to make a decision within 45 days regarding the alleged misuse of an amenity plot in Kathiawar Housing Society, which is currently being used for a commercial school.

A division bench of the SHC, comprising Justice Yousuf Ali Saeed and Justice Abdul Mobeen Lakho, issued the order while hearing a constitutional petition filed by Altaf Shakoor, Chairman of the Pasban Democratic Party (PDP). The petitioner's counsel Advocate Khuram Lakhani argued that the amenity plot was wrongfully converted for commercial purposes.

The bench remarked that the petitioner's grievance revolves around the alleged unlawful conversion of the amenity plot into a commercial school, a move that violates the intended use of the plot as a public amenity.

During the proceedings, the petitioner's counsel informed the court that a formal application had been submitted to the SBCA DG, requesting appropriate action. He further stated that the petitioner would be satisfied if the SBCA DG was directed to take a decision on the matter in accordance with the law.

Speaking to the media after the hearing, Altaf Shakoor criticised the growing trend of commercial activities taking place on amenity plots in Karachi. He alleged that this phenomenon was a result of collusion between office-bearers of cooperative societies and corrupt bureaucratic elements.

DUET students allowed to sit in exams

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday allowed three engineering students of Dawood University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) to appear in their upcoming examinations on a conditional basis after their admissions were cancelled by the university administration.

The bench, hearing petitions filed by students Muhammad Uzair, Muhammad Zohaib, and Muhammad Sajid, was informed that their admissions had been suspended and later revoked following allegations of misconduct. The students had approached the court challenging the university's notification, which they claimed was issued without any inquiry or opportunity to defend themselves.

Representing the petitioners, Advocate Usman Farooq argued that the disciplinary action lacked transparency and violated due process. The defence counsel contended that no evidence was presented, nor were the students heard before their admissions were cancelled.

25 bonded labourers freed in Benazirabad

In a separate matter, the Sindh High Court was informed that police had successfully rescued 25 members of a single family who had been held captive and forced into bonded labour for nearly two years in Benazirabad district.

The report was submitted before Justice Hasan Akbar in compliance with the court's earlier directives after relatives of the victims filed a petition seeking their recovery.

According to the police report, the operation was carried out near Main War Stop in Benazirabad, where the victims were found confined on the agricultural land of Ali Asghar Jamali. The rescued individuals included men, women, and children - among them a two-month-old infant.

Police stated that the victims had been illegally detained and forced to work without pay. Following the rescue, they were safely relocated and provided medical assistance.

Justice Hasan Akbar appreciated the efforts of police teams from both relevant districts for ensuring the safe recovery of the hostages within the stipulated timeframe. The court had earlier ordered police to execute the recovery operation within three days and submit a detailed compliance report.

The judge observed that bonded labour remained a serious human rights concern in rural Sindh and directed authorities to take strict action against those responsible for keeping workers in illegal confinement.