KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Friday turned down an application of some residents of Mehmoodabad seeking interim stay order against encroachments removal operation along the Mehmoodabad nullah.

The petitioners through their counsel moved SHC and contended that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation had leased their houses.

They further argued that the authorities concerned were misinterpreting the orders of Supreme Court regarding encroachments and sought a restraining order against the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in their area.

They also pleaded to appoint a nazir for inspection of their houses.

A division bench of SHC headed by Justice Mohammad Junaid Ghaffar deplored that there were encroachments on the drains of the city and said that they knew the manner in which KMC had granted such leases.

The bench further observed that it could not grant any stay order since the operation against encroachments was being carried out on the directive of the SC and asked the petitioners to approach the apex court.

Meanwhile, the bench issued notices to respondents on some of the petitions filed by a few residents of Orangi Town against the anti-encroachment drive.

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

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2021