SHC appoints Nazir to verify removal of encroachments from Super Highway

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has appointed the Nazir of the court to inspect amenity land from Al-Asif square to the Toll Plaza and verify removal of encroachments from public properties.

The direction came on a petition against illegal parking lots and encroachments on public spaces and green belts in Sohrab Goth and other areas of District East. The East deputy commissioner (DC) filed a compliance report submitting that all encroachments and soft structures from the Jamali Bridge to Badshah Hotel had been removed and the area handed over to the National Highway Authority (NHA).

The DC office representatives submitted that all the encroachments on both sides of M-9 from Al-Asif Square to the Habib Hotel had been removed. The SHC was informed that the anti-encroachment drive was still under way and further progress shall be placed before the court on the next date of hearing.

A counsel for a private company submitted the master plan of the concession area of M-9 along with the list of approved ancillary facilities/development work in its right of way. A division bench of the SHC headed by Justice Nadeem Akhtar directed the private company to supply the master plan to all the parties concerned, including the East DC within seven days.

Some of the petitioners alleged that the NHA and the private construction company under the guise of development and beautification of public property were planning to hand over portions of the public property to selective parties for construction of fuel stations, restaurants, bus terminal, etc.

A counsel for the NHA and private company denied the allegations and submitted that development and beautification would be strictly in accordance with the concession agreement between the NHA and private company. They said that all fuel stations and restaurants shall be constructed strictly in accordance with the law after obtaining requisite approvals, sanctions and no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the competent authorities and relevant ministries.

The petitioners further alleged that reports submitted by the East DC with regard to removal of encroachments and handing over the same to the NHA were misleading and incorrect. The SHC appointed the Nazir to verify the claim of the DC with regard to removal of encroachments from both sides of the Super hHghway from Al-Asif Square to the Habib Hotel. The bench directed the SSP and SHO concerned to ensure that no law and order situation was created at the site at the time of inspection and submit a report by January 30.

It is pertinent to mention that the SHC had earlier ordered the East DC, the anti-encroachment cell and other civic authorities to restore the entire public property, including service roads, green belts and footpaths, to its original position as per the master plan from Sohrab Goth to the Toll Plaza. The high court had ordered removal of encroachments from public land, footpaths and green belts and restoration to their original position.