KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has issued notices to the provincial and local authorities on a petition against proposed demolition of houses in Mujahid Colony.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi directed the home secretary, Board of Revenue (BoR), Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and other respondents to file their comments till Feb 21.

Waqar Ahmed Khan and five others petitioned the SHC seeking urgency on the ground that the respondents were going to demolish their houses.

The counsel for the petitioners Tahir Awan contended that his clients had obtained lease from the Sindh Katchi Abadi department and residing in Mujahid Colony for the past many decades.

He argued that the houses in question were neither illegal nor constructed on a nullah and not affected by the orders of the Supreme Court regarding encroachments.

The bench in its order stated, “Subject to maintainability of instant petition and orders passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court for removing encroachments from public land and nullahs, let pre-admission notice be issued to the respondents as well as AAG.”

It also directed the lawyer for petitioners to come prepared on the next hearing to assist the bench about petitioners’ lawful right or title over the subject land.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2023