KARACHI: US consulate on Clifton plot not to be allowed: Govt submits in SHC
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, March 18: The provincial government has decided in principle not to allow conversion of a Clifton plot for construction of a new US consulate-general building in the city, an additional advocate-general informed the Sindh High Court on Friday. Additional Advocate-General Abbas Ali stated before Justice Mushir Alam that he needed time to make a more definite statement on behalf of the Sindh government. It was, however, obvious that the change of land-use was not being sanctioned by the government. Plot ST-21B, measuring 40,000 square yards, Khayaban-i-Saadi, Block V, Clifton, would remain an amenity plot as originally envisaged, he submitted. Justice Alam, who had earlier restrained the all the defendants from proceeding with the consulate shifting plan to the new site, adjourned further hearing of the suit instituted by the Karachi Grammar School.
Advocates Kabraji and Talibuddin submitted on behalf of the plaintiff that the consulate, if constructed, would pose a security and environmental threat to the area, particularly the school and its students. Besides, an amenity plot could not be allowed to be put to any other use under the law as declared by superior courts.
HUTS RENT: A division bench, comprising Justices Ataur Rehman and Zia Pervez, advised the city district government and tenants in possession of its huts at Hawkesbay to reach a settlement mutually on the amount of rent within 15 days. In the absence of a mutual settlement, the court would step in to fix a resonable rent, it observed.
The city district government raised the rent hundreds of its huts from Rs 600 per annum to Rs 25000 annually. About 25 tenants moved a writ petition against the CDGK decision. They said the new rent was prohibitive and violative of their legal and constitutional rights. It was aimed at depriving them of their leases without due process of law.
Representing the respondent government, Advocate Manzoor Ahmed submitted that the rent was fixed decades ago and the new amount was in keeping with the prevailing market rate. However, the government would consider the petitioners’ demand and try to reach a reasonable settlement.
NOTICES ISSUED: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday issued notice to Deputy Attorney General (DAG) for March 25 on a petition of Commodore (retd) Mirza Ashfaq Baig seeking deletion of his name from Exit Control List (ECL), adds PPI.
Petitioner, who was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz (military), said on account of placement of name on the ECL by FIA he was facing hardship. He said after retirement he received an offer of employment in Saudi Arabia due to his technical qualification but due to placement of his name in the ECL he could not travel abroad.
The court was prayed to delete his name from the ECL and restrain respondents for creating any impediments in his travel. The SHC’s division bench, comprising Chief Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad and Justice Maqbool Baqar issued notice to DAG and FIA authorities for March 25.
Mirza Ashfaq Baig along with former naval chief Mansoorul Haq were convicted by Accountability Court in Karachi for causing losses of over Rs1.8billion to national exchequer in the procurement of three vessels for Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC). However, their conviction was turned down by the High Court. Against the High Court order, NAB filed appeal in the Supreme Court, which is still pending.
