KARACHI, March 15: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Thursday stayed the disposal of Kidney Hill land under a compromise recorded by the court. A petition moved by Advocate Naimatullah Khan, the former city nazim, through advocate Raja Qasit Nawaz, said the entire 62 acres of the land were earmarked for a public park but were later transferred to the Overseas Pakistanis Cooperative Housing Society in violation of the law. After prolonged litigation during which some of the petitioners withdrew their names under pressure, a ‘questionable’ compromise was reached between the parties leaving only 20 acres for development of a park. He said an amenity plot could not be converted into residential one under the law and any compromise to the effect was repugnant to the law.

A division bench consisting of Justices Mushir Alam and Mrs Yasmeen Abbasy observed that work on the park could begin on the 20 acres allocated under the compromise but there would be no transfer of the remaining area till the next date of hearing after two weeks.

The same bench adjourned the hearing of Gujranwala deputy nazim’s petition against cancellation of his matriculation certificate by the Karachi education board.

The petitioner was present in the court on Thursday for verification of his handwriting but his counsel, Khwaja Naveed Ahmed, said he had engaged advocate Dr Babar Awan, who wanted to appear himself and question the fact-finding inquiry in exercise of writ jurisdiction.

The board has sent the petitioner’s answer sheets for comparison of his handwriting. The bench ordered that the case would proceed on April 3.