KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) to remove encroachments from all amenity plots in the city within two days.

A two-judge SC bench headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed was hearing an application of a woman seeking contempt proceedings against officials concerned for allotting her plot to another party in violation of a court order.

In a previous hearing, the court had also issued notices to the then KDA director general Nasir Abbas, assistant director Syed Muzzafar Ali and other officials.

When the application came up for hearing on Monday, KDA’s deputy director-land Sagheer Ahmed submitted a report in court stating that a plot in North Karachi’s Sector 11-E had been allotted to the applicant in lieu of her plot.However, he conceded that the piece of land in question was an amenity plot.

His reply irked the judges to an extent that at one stage they called the police for his arrest and subsequent shifting to prison.

Justice Ahmed observed that the officials concerned sold green belts and amenity plots. The court deplored that playgrounds had been converted into marriage halls.

SHC calls for probe against Rao Anwar

The judges remarked that public spaces at Kashmir Road, University Road, North Karachi and other parts of the city had been either encroached upon or illegally allotted.

The court directed the deputy director to clear encroachments from all the amenity plots in the provincial metropolis. He was also directed to file a compliance report in court on Nov 29.

The court also ordered the director-land of the KDA to ensure his presence on the next date of hearing.

The applicant, Sabiha Parveen, submitted that she fulfilled all the legal requirements to get a plot, but the KDA officials in connivance with private persons had allotted it to another party.

She further submitted that this act on part of KDA officials amounted to contempt of court and requested the court to initiate contempt proceedings against them.

IGP told to launch probe against Rao Anwar

The Sindh High Court on Monday directed the inspector general of police to hold an inquiry against SSP-Malir Rao Anwar and others for allegedly harassing citizens.

A division bench headed by Justice Niamatullah Phulphoto asked the IGP to conduct an investigation against the SSP and other officials into the allegations levelled in a petition filed by three citizens — Shakir Awan, Sabir Awan and Malik Asad.

Impleading the SSP and other police officials as respondents, the petitioners submitted that policemen of Malir City, Sharafi Goth and other police stations of Malir district were allegedly harassing them.

The petitioners maintained that police were demanding bribes after framing them in forged cases and threatening to kill them in staged encounters.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2017