KARACHI: City govt asked to provide plot to petitioner
KARACHI, May 12: A division bench of the Sindh High Court has ordered the City District Government Karachi to take necessary steps and provide an alternative plot of the same size to a petitioner within two weeks.
The court was hearing a contempt application against officials of the CDGK.
The bench observed that if the respondents failed to provide the petitioner, Abdul Aziz, with the plot, another order would be passed against them and they might be asked to pay the petitioner the price of the plot according to the market value.
Mr Aziz had filed the contempt application against assistant district officers of the CDGK’s anti- encroachment cell, works and services department of Korangi and others for violating a court order.
He alleged that the respondents had demolished his construction on plot A-235 in the Mohammadi Market in Korangi area without any intimation to him, despite an assurance to the court that no unlawful action would be taken.
The respondents told the court that the plot did not exist and the construction had been demolished as encroachment.
The bench observed that the petitioner in his case claimed that he owned the plot, which the respondents stated did not exist, though the petitioner had a verdict in his favour from the civil court.
The court observed that the department had not undertaken any proceedings so that the judgement could be set aside, despite having full knowledge. ”The delinquent officer who executed the lease has retired and the petitioner is left in lurch without any remedy,” it noted.
The court ordered the CDGK to provide an alternative plot to the petitioner.
It observed that public functionaries like the City District Government Karachi were oblivious to their responsibility to protect rights and interests of people at large.
Officers involved in swindling were usually spared without any departmental proceeding or action against them, aggravating difficulties and miseries of people, the court noted with concern.
DETENTION CASE: The Sindh High Court on Friday issued notices to advocate general Sindh and deputy attorney general for May 18 on a petition against alleged detention of central vice President of Jamhori Watan Party by the law enforcement agencies.
Mohammad Saleem Baloch, who is also Vice President of ARD Sindh chapter, was arrested by the law enforcement agencies on March 10 from Kalakot, alleged his brother Abdullah Baloch in a petition.
Petitioner's counsel Ms Noor Naz Agha expressed fear about the life of the detainee by respondents as neither his arrest was shown in any case nor he was produced before any court of law.
The court was prayed to order production of the detainee before the court and he may be released if not involved in any case.
SHC's division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Mrs. Qaiser Iqbal, after preliminary hearing of the petition issued notice to provincial and federal law officers for May 18 and called their comments regarding alleged detention.—PPI
