KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has issued notices to the provincial authorities on a petition challenging the recently created Keamari district.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNA Aamir Liaquat Hussain moved the SHC against the Sindh government for carving out a seventh district out of the provincial metropolis.

When the petition came up for hearing before a two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, the counsel for the petitioner along with his statement filed a copy of the notification issued on Sept 4, whereby under Section 6 of the Sindh Land Revenue Act, 1967 the provincial government has changed the existing district West by creating a new district called Keamari.

The lawyer argued that the new district had been created in violation of the law and proper procedure had also not been followed.

The bench issued notices to the Sindh government through the chief secretary and also put the local government secretary, secretary of the provincial assembly as well as the deputy attorney general and additional advocate general on notice for Oct 15.

On Aug 20, the Sindh cabinet had approved carving out of Keamari district from Karachi’s West district after it was informed that with over 3.9 million people West district was the largest district in the province in terms of population and a decision to bifurcate it was being taken “in the larger public interest”.

The move drew a backlash from opposition parties as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Jamaat-i-Islami and Pak Sarzameen Party rejected what they called division of Karachi on ethnic grounds.

Then Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar had also opposed the decision saying the Pakistan Peoples Party had won only four union committees in West district and the move was aimed at getting political gain and money since it included all areas that generate revenue in Keamari district. “Neither district chairman of West nor people were taken on board before bifurcation and creation of Keamari district. The people should be asked through referendum whether or not they want a new district,” he had said.

During Gen Musharraf’s rule Karachi was made one district under his devolution of power plan system. Later, the PPP revived the old division of five districts — South, East, West, Central and Malir — and in 2013 created a sixth district and named it Korangi.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2020