KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has refused to grant interim stay orders on a set of petitions filed against the anti-encroachment drive launched in different parts of the city on the directive of Supreme Court.

The petitioners approached the SHC after the Sindh Building Control Authority and other authorities had issued them notices regarding demolition of unauthorized encroachments and restaurants on Superhighway, Landhi, Korangi and several other parts of the provincial metropolis.

The SHC issued notices to respondents on some of the petitions, but did not issue any restraining order.

Last week, the SC had ordered the authorities concerned to launch an operation against unauthorized and illegal encroachments and constructions on government land including parks, green belts, amenity land and other public spaces as well as the land of irrigation and forest departments across the province and sought compliance report within a month.

Women’s kidnapping cases

The SHC on Tuesday issued notice to prosecutor and investigating officer on the bail application of a suspect in the kidnapping of two young women in Defence Housing Authority.

Fayyaz Ahmed Solangi through his counsel moved a bail application and after a preliminary hearing a two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro issued notice to prosecutor and IO of the case for Jan 26.

The lawyer for the suspect argued that the applicant was not named during initial investigation and police implicated him later.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2021