Earlier, the court was informed that some influential people had buried bodies of their relatives in the protected area of the Chowkandi graveyard despite resistance from the archeology department.
The secretary of the archeology department had submitted in comments that the department was fully aware of the importance of the conservation of historical monuments and it had qualified archeologists, conservators and archeological engineers.
He had said that conversation of the Chowkandi tombs would be carried out in line with the set procedure of conversation prevalent worldwide.
Regarding the preservation of the historical graveyard, he had submitted that the deterioration process due to the ravages of time was a natural process which could be controlled by taking preventive steps, including day-to-day maintenance.
According the secretary, an annual development programme scheme for the protection of archeological sites has been prepared and it will be executed as and when the required funds are released by the authorities.
He had submitted that emergency conservation, including the provision of a fence round the Chowkandi graveyard, would be carried.
The court was told that appropriate action, including the construction of a boundary wall, was being taken for the safeguard, maintenance and conversation of tombs, and that the department was in touch with the district administration to remove the encroachments from beyond the limits of the protected monuments.
Encroachments’ removal
The SHC gave further time to the administrator of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to remove encroachments from and around Jahangir Park in Saddar.
The court was hearing identical petitions against an unlawful construction at the historical park.
The petitioners submitted that the Supreme Court, while deciding a suo moto case, had ordered the now defunct City District Government Karachi to restore the status of the public park and develop it; however, an encroachment was being made by private persons.
They said the park should be developed for public welfare without any unlawful construction. The court at a previous hearing had summoned the KMC administrator to explain non-compliance with orders for the removal of the encroachment.
The administrator appeared before the court and assured it that all encroachments would be removed by October 31. The court, granting more time, directed the KMC administrator to ensure compliance with its directives by October 31.