KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Friday restrained the provincial and local authorities from sealing and demolishing the industrial and commercial units located in Mehran Town.

A single-judge bench headed by Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi also issued notices to the local government secretary, Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) as well as the advocate general for Oct 20.

However, the bench made it clear that its interim restraining order would cease to have effect if any order of the Supreme court had been passed in respect of the land where the subject plots were situated.

The KDA had recently cancelled the allotment orders of around 1,400 plots in Mehran Town, Korangi over misuse of such residential spaces for industrial and commercial purposes.

The KDA made the decision apparently in the aftermath of the killing of 16 industrial workers when a fire had engulfed a factory in Mehran Town in August. A police report stated that the ill-fated industrial unit was operating in a residential area.

Several individuals and firms, through their lawyers, filed three suits in the SHC stating that the plaintiffs along with all other owners/title holders of plots were operating commercial establishments, which were taken over in the shape and form as existed at the time of purchase by them.

The counsel contended that as per the site plan/scheme all 160-sq-yds plots were designated for industrial use and no-objection certificates had also been granted to plot owners to use their plots for specific commercial and industrial use.

They further argued that the plaintiffs were doing legal businesses on most of such plots in their possession in accordance with law, but the defendants without issuing any notice were attempting to demolish their buildings after obtaining approval from competent authorities.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2021