January 14, 2009	Wednesday	Muharram 16, 1430

KARACHI, Jan 13: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday directed the City District Government Karachi to provide alternative plots or make compensation to petitioners who were allotted commercial plots in Clifton within 90 days.

Akram Nabi along with five other petitioners moved the court against the city government, submitting that the defunct KDA created 350 commercial plots in Clifton in 1982. They applied and obtained allotment of 16.66-square-yard commercial plots each, which were not part of Bagh Ibn-i-Qasim. The competent authority amalgamated plots and the city government claimed that the plots were carved out from an amenity plot of Bagh Ibn-i-Qasim.

The petitioners prayed that they be declared legal allotees of the plots and respondents be directed to either provide alternative plots or compensate them at the plot’s market value.

The SHC division bench comprising Justices Azizullah M. Memon and Abdur Rehman Faruq Pirzada announced the verdict earlier reserved by the court. The bench observed: “The petitioners proved their entitlement to be compensated by providing alternate plots or compensation. Petition is allowed for regular hearing and respondents are directed to either allot/ transfer subject allotted property to petitioners or make compensation in 90 days from announcement of this order.”—PPI