KARACHI: Arsonists to face trial in ATCs: governor
KARACHI, April 1: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad said on Friday that those found involved in damaging public properties and sabotage activities during the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s strike on April 2 would be tried in anti-terrorist courts.
Talking to newsmen during his visit to different parks in the city, he said that the political leaders found involved in harassment would be dealt with severely and stern action would be taken against them. Giving a call for observing strike and damaging public property came under anti-terrorist act, he added.
He asked as to what the MMA was doing to control price hike in two provinces where they had their government while they had taken price hike as a target for their strike. “We are out in the field to provide due relief and facilities to people and nobody would be allowed to disrupt the city’s peace through subversive acts,” he remarked.
The governor said that fool-proof arrangements had been made and special directives had been issued to police, Rangers and other law enforcing agencies to keep strict watch on mischievous elements and take immediate action against those forcing the shopkeepers to close their business. He admitted that some arrests had been made where activists were threatening and provoking shopkeepers to observe a strike on Saturday, saying such persons were not sincere with the country as they were trying to destabilize economy.
Ishratul Ibad said that the provincial government was working on incomplete parks, which were neglected by previous governments. In this regard, he added, a master plan of parks was being prepared and sites were being identified for constructing new parks.
He inspected various parks for more than four hours and had an appraisal about their condition.
Dr Ibad was informed by the park officials that land grabbers had encroached upon several parks’ land. However, he was told that majority of encroachments had been removed while for the recovery of other occupied land, efforts were underway. He was further told that the land was allotted in Hill Park and Kindey Hill Park, where residential houses had been constructed. Litigations were underway against these allotments.
The governor ordered to construct a jogging track in Hill Park and Jheel Park so that along with amusement health facilities could be provided to the masses. He took notice of the absence of boundary wall around the Hill Park and directed officials concerned to erect wire wall around the park.
He expressed concern over the lake in Jheel Park, which was full of bushes mainly due to negligence of the staff concerned. During his visit, some people complained over lack of facilities in the park and drew the governor’s attention towards Afghanis, living around the park, involved in illegal activities.
On his visit to a park in Old Clifton, he was informed that illegal structures had been constructed on the park land, however, the same were got removed. The governor issued orders to erect grill around the park so that park could be protected from any encroachment in future.
He also visited the Clifton Fish Aquarium, where he was briefed about the renovation work underway by the city government.
Aquarium officials told him about lack of funding due to which some of expenditures they had curtailed. They informed him that Rs23.37million project would be completed within the next few months.
During the visit to Clifton beach, the governor took strict notice of garbage and encroachments on the brink of sea, and ordered to take measures for cleanliness and beautification of the beach. — PPI/APP
