SHC summons mayor for assistance in ground rent payment case

The Sindh High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Karachi mayor and others to appear in person in 14-year-old pending petitions challenging the ground rent notices from the defunct city district government Karachi.

Gul Ahmed Textile Mills and others challenged the ground rent notices issued by the defunct CDGK. Their counsel submitted that the CDGK issued a notice in newspapers that if the 37 industries of the Landhi and Korangi did not pay the rent, the factories would be sealed.

Their counsel submitted that demand notices issued by the defunct CDGK was illegal and without adopting the relevant rules. A division bench headed by Justice Agha Faisal observed that the petitions had been pending for the last 14 years and the court record demonstrated complete disinterest of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.

The court observed that notices were issued to the KMC mayor on the last date of the hearing, directing him to ensure presence of a senior responsible officer conversant with the facts of the case to assist the court.

It said that on Tuesday none of the officials appeared before the court despite its clear direction and without giving any justification or intimation. The court issued a notice to Mayor Murtaza Wahab to appear in person on the next date of the hearing and assist the court in the issue. The court in the meantime continued the interim orders on the petitions.