PHOTO: FILE
The management of Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar Cooperative Housing Society has been restrained from converting a 600-square-yard residential plot into a commercial property.
Fakharul Arfin among three residents went to Sindh High Court against the conversion in the nature of the property allegedly in violation of the relevant laws. On Tuesday, a division bench, headed by Justice Maqbool Baqir, took up their petition. Lawyer Abdul Rahman said the petitioners were lawful owners of the properties, which they had chosen decades ago.
Muhammad Ishaq, the owner of plot No. 31-B in the same society, wants to convert his property into a commercial one in violation of rules, he alleged. In May 2003, the ministry of works had clarified that the housing society managements had no authority to allow conversion of residential properties into commercial. But the society’s management has issued a no-objection certificate, allowing Ishaq to convert the status of his land, the petitioners alleged.
Only those plots located on the road front can be converted, according to the society’s policy. There is no main road within Muhammad Ali Society except for a small portion which is located along the Sharae Faisal. The respondent’s plot, however, does not fall in that area, Rahman said.
Secondly, it is mandatory to obtain the report of environmental impact assessment before converting the land’s status, he added. The bench issued notices to the federal and provincial authorities to file their comments by January 30. The court also directed the management of the housing society, the Sindh Building Control Authority, civic agencies and Muhammad Ishaq to submit their versions.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2013.
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