Gul Plaza probe digs into the past

Judicial commission seeks pre-Partition land records of the plaza, sets April 1 deadline

KARACHI:

In a bid to untangle decades-old questions surrounding land ownership, judicial commission has turned back the clock - seeking answers rooted in colonial-era laws and pre-Partition records to determine the true status of Gul Plaza.

During proceedings at the Sindh High Court, the commission directed the Board of Revenue Sindh to provide detailed documentation clarifying the legal standing of the Gul Plaza land.

The commission specifically asked whether the land was classified as municipal property, leasehold, or granted under a specific allotment.

Senior Member Board of Revenue Khalid Hyder Shah appeared before the commission and submitted initial records. However, the commission raised a series of probing questions regarding historical land entries, transfer records, and official maps.

The inquiry extends deep into the colonial past, with the commission seeking details about land allotments made in 1873 to the Karachi Municipality and in 1884 to the East India Company for tramway development.

It has also demanded copies of any agreements linked to these allotments.

Further, the commission questioned whether the land arrangements fell under the Tramways Act 1886 and how its status evolved under subsequent laws, including the Government of India Act 1933.

It also called for clarification on the present-day ownership claims - whether the land belongs to the provincial government or falls under the custody of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, either as a trust or outright municipal ownership.

Officials were also asked to explain whether any official notification or gazette entry had ever been issued by the Board of Revenue regarding the land, and whether KMC's claims had been formally verified or rejected.

The commission further directed authorities to outline how such land was treated under historical frameworks like the Bombay Land Revenue Code 1879 and the Sindh Land Revenue Act 1967, and whether any audit or review had ever been conducted to ensure compliance with original grant conditions.

On the request of the Board of Revenue for additional time, the commission granted a deadline until April 1 to submit complete records - signalling that the case hinges on uncovering the documentary trail buried in history.