Prompt action: KMC removes encroachments on high court’s orders

Anti-encroachment campaign to intensify as traffic flow worsens.


Our Correspondent January 01, 2014
Anti-encroachment campaign to intensify as traffic flow worsens. PHOTO: ONLINE/FILE

KARACHI:


The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) on Wednesday morning to remove all encroachments allegedly built by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) below the Baloch Colony Flyover before 2pm.


The division bench, headed by Justic Sajjad Ali Shah, also ordered police to provide assistance in removing the encroachments.

Following the orders, KMC demolished all encroachments beneath the bridge under the supervision of a Nazir. “We have followed the orders and destroyed all encroachments under the bridge before 2pm,” KMC administrator Rauf Akhtar Farooqui informed The Express Tribune.

The petitioner, Abdul Ghafoor Khan, claimed that PAF authorities had illegally occupied the land under the flyover and leased it out as shops.



Khan had further alleged that the defence ministry had asked PAF to construct the flyover on its land and had allotted 1,200 square feet of alternate land to PAF as compensation. However, the air force authorities had still occupied the land under the flyover illegally.

Citing the defence ministry, PAF base commander, military estate officer, the city administrator and KMC as respondents, Khan had appealed to the court to order the demolition of encroachments under the supervision of a Nazir. In response, the KMC also filed a reply which stated that the land under the Baloch Colony flyover was encroached but the PAF claimed that the land beneath the flyover belonged to them.

It was contended that the encroachment beneath the bridge ordered by PAF Sharae Faisal base commander was illegal and should be removed. It was further asserted that all illegal constructions beneath flyovers in the city should be removed if directed by the court.

The court ordered KMC to remove all encroachments and submit a compliance report. The court referred to a similar flyover in Rawalpindi and suggested the construction of a public park under the flyover.

Stepping up to the plate

KMC has stepped up the ongoing operation against encroachments after the city experienced some of its worst traffic gridlocks during the last week.

“During the last week, the city’s traffic was in chaos,” said Gulshan-e-Iqbal resident Raza Hyder. “The city seemed devoid of any traffic laws and an hour’s journey took twice as long.”

Saddar Market Association president Jamil Ahmed Paracha blamed traffic police and encroachment mafia for the traffic jams. “Due to the inefficiency of traffic police and an encroachment mafia which is backed by political parties, this matter will never be resolved” said the president while talking to The Express Tribune. “Encroachments will only be tackled in important parts of the city.”

However, the dire traffic situation has not gone unnoticed and Farooqui called a meeting on Tuesday to direct concerned authorities to immediately resolve the encroachment problem.

“A comprehensive strategy needs to formulated in order to take effective measures for removal of various type of encroachments alongside all major roads, corridors, pavements and parks” he directed. “This will help beautify the city and will also improve traffic flow which will facilitate commuters.”

The administrator added that encroachments not only have an adverse affect on the city’s infrastructure but also pose a major hurdle in the city’s planning. During the meeting, officers of KMC’s anti-encroachment department also updated Farooqui about the operation’s progress.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2014.

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