F.P. Report
KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the authorities to remove the barriers placed outside various buildings including Sindh Rangers headquarters, Chief Minister House and Governor House and present the report within three days.
“No one is allowed to obstruct the free movement of people […] Blocking roads and creating obstacles is illegal,” Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa said on Thursday. CJP Isa’s remarks came as he led a three-member bench, comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, during the hearing of multiple cases including those relating to encroachment and Nasla Tower at the SC Karachi Registry.
At the onset of the hearing today, the chief justice underscored that the federal and provincial governments themselves are encroaching on the lands and directed the authorities to “clear” the roads. Ordering the attorney general to inform the federal government, the apex court directed the authorities to send a copy of the court order to all concerned institutions, including those relating to security.
“The expenses related to the removal of encroachments should also be collected from the encroachers,” CJP Isa said. Responding to the argument that barricades are raised due to security concerns, the top judge said: “The public continues to be attacked [but] you get to remain safe? What kind of law is this?”
“If you feel too scared, go and sit in a remote area,” he added while directing the authorities to abstain from blocking the roads under the pretext of security. “Why don’t you remove encroachments in front of [Sindh] Rangers headquarters?” the CJP said while questioning the law under which Jinnah Court premises were handed over to the Rangers.
“Place the [security] containers inside the Governor House. Why do you put it outside?” the top judge said while stressing that encroachments should be removed even if they are within the premises of the SC itself. The case was then adjourned till Friday (today).
Furthermore, the SC also directed the authorities to sell the land and compensate the affectees of Nasla Tower — the residential complex razed on the apex court’s verdict. The top court headed by then CJP Gulzar Ahmed had ordered the demolition of the 15-storey residential complex, located at the junction of Shahrae Faisal and Shahrae Quadeen, in June 2021 because the structure was constructed illegally.
Back then, the court had directed the builders to refund the affectees of the residential and commercial units within three months. Subsequently the apex court then also rejected a petition for review of its decision of the building’s demolition.
