The president should buy the road if he wants to block it: Justice Osmany
Blockading roads is in violation of Article 9.
KARACHI:
The Supreme Court has said that blocking public roads in the city violates Article 9 of the Constitution.
“Ask the president to buy the land, if he is so concerned about his security,” remarked Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, expressing his annoyance over the blockade of the road surrounding Bilawal House in Clifton.
The court made these observations on Tuesday during its hearing on the implementation of the Karachi violence suo motu recommendations given a year ago.
Most of the thoroughfares have been blocked by barricades around the offices of law enforcement agencies. A 50-feet high wall has been constructed in the middle of the road to protect Bilawal House, causing problems for the people who use the artery.
It noted that the court road in front of the Sindh Assembly had also been closed down by installing gates, and barricades had been placed on footpaths in front of the Pakistan Cost Guard office.
The bench called all of this a clear violation of Article 9 of the Constitution that ensures citizens a right to life.
The court expressed its annoyance also over the closure of the road from Shaheen Complex to the Arts Council roundabout. AIG Bashir Ahmed Memon said it had blocked the road to make sure no such situation developed as did during the last session when police officers had quarreled.
Snubbing him, the court said that this move was aimed to protect their IG and home secretary.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 24th, 2012.
The Supreme Court has said that blocking public roads in the city violates Article 9 of the Constitution.
“Ask the president to buy the land, if he is so concerned about his security,” remarked Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, expressing his annoyance over the blockade of the road surrounding Bilawal House in Clifton.
The court made these observations on Tuesday during its hearing on the implementation of the Karachi violence suo motu recommendations given a year ago.
Most of the thoroughfares have been blocked by barricades around the offices of law enforcement agencies. A 50-feet high wall has been constructed in the middle of the road to protect Bilawal House, causing problems for the people who use the artery.
It noted that the court road in front of the Sindh Assembly had also been closed down by installing gates, and barricades had been placed on footpaths in front of the Pakistan Cost Guard office.
The bench called all of this a clear violation of Article 9 of the Constitution that ensures citizens a right to life.
The court expressed its annoyance also over the closure of the road from Shaheen Complex to the Arts Council roundabout. AIG Bashir Ahmed Memon said it had blocked the road to make sure no such situation developed as did during the last session when police officers had quarreled.
Snubbing him, the court said that this move was aimed to protect their IG and home secretary.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 24th, 2012.