KARACHI, June 23: A division bench of the Sindh High Court comprising Justice Musheer Alam and Justice Nadeem Azhar Siddiqui on Friday issued notices to a landowner of Younasabad Goth, DDO Revenue, nazim of Keamari Town and others in a constitutional petition challenging removal of mangroves and reclaiming lands worth billions of rupees.

The petition was filed by Mohammad Haroon, a resident of the same town who maintained that the mangroves forest had been chopped down and the land thus reclaimed had been sold in the shape of plots of different sizes worth millions of rupees. This practice, he added, deprived the government of hefty amounts and resulted in damage to the ecosystem.

The bench, after hearing Gohar Iqbal advocate, counsel for the petitioner, issued notices to the respondents and appointed the SHC Nazir, Mr Zaheeruddin, to inspect the site and submit a report to the bench.

The bench has sought comments of DDO Revenue and nazim of Keamari Town with regard to the petitioner’s claims.

The bench also allowed a stay application which sought indulgence of the court to stop further cutting of mangroves, sale of the land, etc.—APP