KARACHI, Nov 1: A Sindh High Court division bench summoned the relevant officials of the city district government of Karachi and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to explain on Nov 6 why the Muslimabad hydrant had not been shifted to its new site.
The CDGK and the KWSB had assured the bench, which consists of Justices Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Ali Sain Dino Metlo, about six months ago that the hydrant would be shifted to Manzoor Colony. A petition for the hydrant’s closure was moved by Advocate Syed Sami Ahmad stating that it was a public nuisance and that better sites were available for its location. The present site was surrounded by about 1,000 residential bungalows, a church, a shelter for handicapped children and a girls’ college. It violated the law and rules as hundreds of tankers plying round the clock caused public and private nuisance.
Demolition ordered
Another division bench comprising Justices Mushir Alam and Mohammad Afzal Soomro ordered the demolition of unauthorized structure on plot SB-52, Block 9, Scheme 36, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, within four weeks. A petition was moved by purchaser of an apartment in the Piprani Comfort and Shopping Arcade alleging that the builder, in connivance, with the officials of the Faisal Cantonment Board, has covered the compulsory open space and constructed shops in the car parking lot. Advocate Abdul Jabbar Korai, the petitioner’s counsel, said the structure violated the approved design and the building regulations.
The bench directed the cantonment board to demolish the offending portions, restore the car parking and the mandatory open space and proceed against the delinquent officials, builder, architect and others involved in the violation and report compliance within four weeks.
Order suspended
The bench also suspended the local government department order for re-transfer of Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto, who was recently posted as town office (finance) in the Keamari Town. He submitted through Advocate M. Nawaz Shaikh that his predecessor Muhammad Fayaz, who has already held the post for seven years, has been asked to continue while his transfer to the post has been cancelled. The bench issued notices to the respondents for Nov 11.
ECL entry
Another division bench consisting of Justices Khilji Arif Hussain and Salman Ansari issued a notice to the deputy attorney-general in a petition moved by Zeal Pak Cement chairman Sikandar Jatoi.
The petitioner submitted through Advocate Adnan Karim that he had been granted bail by the high court in two cases instituted by the National Accountability Bureau against him. He had since gone abroad on business trips eight times but his name still appeared on the exit control list.
