‘China-cutting’: Officials issued contempt notice over land misuse

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued a notice, on a contempt application, to the officials of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s anti-encroachment cell, the Sindh Building Control Authority and the SHOs of Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Anti-Encroachment Cell police stations and other private persons for allegedly continuing the practice of ‘China-cutting’ [illegal cutting] of an amenity plot in defiance of a stay order, on Monday.

Headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, the bench issued these notices on a plea seeking contempt proceedings against the officials for allegedly allowing carving out of the amenity plot.

Naumania Welfare Trust had approached the court alleging that the private respondents had occupied amenity plot no. ST-36 located in KDA Scheme 36 near Gulistan-e-Jauhar. The respondents were trying to alter the master plan for the amenity plot, the court was told. The trust’s representatives recalled that the high court, on August 13, 2012, had directed the officials to ensure no constructions were carried out on the plot but to no avail. After the initial hearing, the bench issued notices for July 8.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2013.