SHC orders removal of encroachments on amenity plot in Qasba Township

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to submit a report with regard to removal of encroachments from an amenity plot in Qasba Township.

The direction came on a petition of Zakir Khan seeking removal of encroachments from the amenity plot ST-2/A sector 5B in Qasba Township Scheme 27. The petitioner submitted that illegal shops and other structures had been built at the amenity plot meant for a park and KMC officials were not taking any action for removal of such illegal constructions.

An estate and enforcement additional director of the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) filed a compliance report with regard to inspection of the site. He submitted that 10 new shops had been constructed in the southern side of the amenity plot. He informed the high court that the KDA executive engineer North Karachi division had pointed out that newly constructed shops were constructed in the alignment of a 150-foot-wide road.

The SHC was informed that the said shops were leased by a former Orangi Town project director in 2014 whereas as per the approved plan, the shops had been constructed on the reserved area for a road.

The KDA official said the town planning and development were completed by the KDA and thereafter all parks, playgrounds and roads were handed over to the KMC. He said that at present, all the parks, playgrounds and roads were under administrative jurisdiction of the KMC and it was the corporation’s duty to remove all such encroachments.

He submitted that all titled documents (allotment, possession and lease) were illegally issued by the KMC. The high court observed the according to the compliance report, the KMC was required to remove all the encroachments from the said land.

A counsel for the KMC sought time to comply with the court orders. Granting time, the SHC directed the KMC counsel to submit a report with regard to removal of the encroachments on the road as well as amenity plot reserved for the park.