SHC wants illegal constructions removed

Karachi
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), anti-encroachment department and other authorities to ensure that all illegal constructions from public parks be removed within three months.
The direction came on a petition of former MPA Younus Barai and other residents of Gulistan-e-Jauhar’s Block 15 who challenged encroachment of 11,266 square yards of a public park by land grabbers.
The petitioner’s counsel, Syed Abdul Waheed, submitted that amenity plot ST-32 was decided to be turned into a public park by the KMC’s Directorate of Parks and Horticulture.
He submitted that construction of the park was not being allowed by armed private persons who were attempting to usurp the public property.
He submitted that the Supreme Court had also ruled that no private or commercial construction could be made on amenity plots and requested the court to direct KMC and other authorities concerned to restrain encroachment of amenity plots meant for public parks.
The counsel for KMC, Sultan Ahmed, conceded the contention of petitioner’s counsel and admitted that illegal construction was raised in the public park. If necessary, he said, instruction would be issued to the authorities and they will do the needful to remove such illegal construction on the said plot.
The SHC division bench headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan directed the KMC and other authorities concerned to ensure removal of encroachment from the park within three months after fulfilling all legal formalities.

Zulfiqarabad terminal
The Supreme Court directed Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui to complete all the necessary work for proper functioning of Zulfiqarabad oil tanker terminal.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Shugafta Bibi, a resident of Clifton Block 1, who pleaded to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to order moving of the oil tankers’ terminal from her locality. The woman had initially sent a letter to the CJP, which was later converted it into a constitutional petition.
The court was informed by the representatives of oil tankers association that Zulfiqarabad terminal could not be completed and this was why they were unable to shift their tankers to the new location. The court summoned the city commissioner for ascertaining the actual position. He submitted that second phase of Zulfiqarabad oil tanker terminal could not be completed due to lack of funds as promised by the stakeholders, including oil marketing companies and the provincial government.
The apex court’s two-member bench headed by Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, directed the commissioner to submit a report about the cost of completing the remaining part of the project after consulting with all the stakeholders.
In the mean time, direct the court, the commissioner was directed to ensure that all the necessary work for proper functioning of oil tankers terminal is completed and asked the provincial government to release the required funds for finishing the project.