KARACHI, March 5: A non-government organisation the Pakistan Civic Society has appealed to the Chief justice of Sindh High Court to take suo motu notice of illegal occupation of Webb playground located in Lines area. The PCS said the law forbids conversion an amenity plot for any other puropose.

Makro Habib Pakistan Ltd is raising a commercial complex on the Webb ground plot located on Survey no.148/1, Mubarak Shaheed Road, Tunisia Lines, Karachi measuring about 5 acres.

The society said the occupation of open spaces in Karachi was nothing but abuse of authority. In the case of Webb ground, they complained the environment was changed arbitrarily.

The society said it supported the demand of Lines area residents and NGOs for the restoration of original status of the ground to allow youth access to healthy sport activities.

The PCS pointed out that Lines area has a population of more than 250,000 and Webb ground was the only playfield for people of the entire locality. The ground is shown in the master plan of Lines Area Redevelopment Project and was transferred to the then KDA on payment of Rs300 million to the defence authorities.