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KARACHI, Aug 29: The Sindh High Court directed the city district government on Wednesday to draw a construction plan for the parking plaza on the site of Shahabuddin Market, Saddar, in harmony with the adjacent Empress Market, which was a national heritage structure.
The shop-owners of the market complained that they were being shifted to an alternative site in the Lines Area, which has no comparison with their existing premises. They proposed that the city government planned to build a parking plaza on the roof-top of the building while a parking lot could better be accommodated in the basement.
Justices Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Ali Sain Dino Metlo, who constitute the bench seized of the petition, extended the stay order in favour of the petitioners against their forcible eviction. It observed that the front elevation of the new plaza should have symmetrical design opening on the Preedy Street.
In a petition questioning setting up of a gas station on plot number 85, Block 14, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, the bench extended its interim injunction till Thursday when the case would come up for hearing again.
The neighbouring residents have challenged the sanction granted for conversion of a residential plot in a residential block. They said the city district government, the Karachi Building Control Authority and other respondents have not followed the prescribed procedure.
A division bench of the SHC comprising Justices Muhammad Afzal Soomro and Rehmat Hussain Jaffery on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of a bail plea filed by a former Cathay Pacific employee till Sept 6, adds PPI.
The bench was hearing the bail application of Darayus Cyrus Minwalla, who is facing a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau in an accountability court for his alleged involvement in the purchase of used and worn-out aircraft for PIA, causing a huge loss to the national flag-carrier.
The NAB, Sindh, requested the court to dismiss Mr Minwalla’s bail application.
Upon his return from Dubai, Mr Minwalla was arrested on Aug 15, 2007 at Karachi airport in compliance with an order issued by the Accountability Court. Other two accused nominated in the reference had earlier been granted interim bail by the SHC.
Filing comments on Mr Minwalla’s bail application, Investigation Officer Irfan Naim Mangi submitted that the accused was the key person behind the agreement on the lease, extension of the lease and purchase of B747-300 aircraft between PIA and Cathay Pacific Airways from 1999 to 2002.
The IO said that Mr Minwalla was aware of the repercussions of receiving and paying kickbacks in the deal and had received at least Rs10.5million from an international airline for his role in the successful execution of the agreement.
The IO said Mr Minwalla had left Pakistan in 2005 soon after a preliminary NAB investigation into his involvement in the deal. Mr Minwalla was aware of the inquiry but deliberately avoided to cooperate [with NAB] despite issuance of notices.
