Anti-encroachment operation: SC orders Sindh govt to continue drive in Karachi

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) Karachi Registry on Tuesday ordered for continuing grand operation against encroachment in the megacity and directed the Sindh chief secretary to lead the operation.

Hearing a petition about an unauthorised construction on an evacuee property in Lyari, a three-member bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam observed it is the responsibility of the civic agencies, including the Sindh Building Control Authority, to maintain the city as per its master plan but they have failed to do so. The court observed that the shopping centers and restaurants have been established on small plots and no space has been left for the movement of pedestrians due to encroachments in the streets.

The bench said it is their dream that Karachi be restored to its original master plan. The Advocate General Sindh Salman Talibuddin submitted that the government is taking assistance from experts and top planners to restore the city in line with its master plan. He said the government has also taken the opinion of the experts’ about the removal of the unauthorised structures as humanitarian crises could occur if action is taken without proper planning. He sought time for compliance with the court directives.

Sindh advocate general told the court that they were taking help from experts to re-establish the city to its unique shape. He said, “We obtained opinion of experts in a conference held on January 1. Had we taken action without consulting, a human tragedy might have occurred.”

The Sindh Building Control Authority also requested the court for additional eight weeks for the operation. The court ordered continuing the anti-encroachment drive in Karachi, and appointed the chief secretary to supervise the operation. It also ordered the removal of rubble from different sites, including Bagh-e-Ibn-e- Qasim. The apex court ordered the chief secretary to ensure cooperation between the relevant departments.