KARACHI, April 2: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday issued show-cause notices to three officials of the National Highway Authority and the Pakistan Steel for allegedly encroaching upon a piece of land pending judicial proceedings.

Petitioner Sadiq Ali complained, through Advocate K.M. Nadeem, that two acres of his ‘Easy Homes’ housing scheme was encroached upon by the National Highway Authority and Pakistan Steel for a road-link between Pakistan Steel and the National Highway.

No acquisition proceedings were initiated by the public sector organizations and he was given no compensation.

While his petition against the encroachment was still pending and notices in a stay application had been issued, the respondents encroached upon another piece of land, measuring 1.12 acres.

The bench, comprising Justices Zahid Kurban Alavi and Khilji Arif Hussain, directed the official assignee to visit the site and ascertain the area encroached upon.

The bench also issued notices to an NHA deputy director and two PSM officials to show-cause why they should not be prosecuted for contempt of court.

The assignee was asked to submit his report within 10 days, after which the matter would be taken up by the bench again.