Remove encroachments from Karachi parks, playgrounds, orders SC

KARACHI: Taking strong exception to the civic authorities for allotting spaces at public parks and other amenity plots, the Supreme Court ordered them to remove all such encroachments across the metropolis, ARY News reported.

The division bench, headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed, had taken up a case at the apex court’s Karachi registry, related to cabin shops and other encroachments on plots reserved for recreational purposes.

Petitioner Shakar Din had taken the civic authorities to the court against removal of a cabin shop from the Lea Market neighbourhood.

Justice Gulzar remarked that the whole city was turned into a mess of cabins and carts. No place could be granted for installing cabin shops in public parks and playgrounds, he added.

Justice Maqbool Baqar, a member of the bench, asked the municipal commissioner to stop his subordinates from making the practice of allotting such public spaces at parks and other amenity plots for commercial use, a source of income.

The court directed the Karachi commissioner to supervise anti-encroachment operation and ensure that these encroachments are removed from parks and playgrounds.