SC orders an uninterrupted anti-encroachment drive in Karachi

KARACHI: Supreme Court has directed for an uninterrupted anti-encroachment operation in Karachi to transform it into a clean and greener city.

Acting Chief Justice Mr. Justice Gulzar Ahmed in a hearing at Karachi registry of the apex court also ordered for speeding up the work of restoration of Karachi Circular Railway and the tramway in the metropolis.

The court stressed for continuation of the drive against encroachments in Karachi including DHA and the cantonment areas.

Justice Gulzar Ahmed said that the encroachments and land grabbing will not be tolerated.

Director General of Karachi Development Authority (KDA), Samiudding Siddiqui in a report submitted to the court informed that the KDA has regained possession of 5485 illegally occupied plots.

According to the report, around 35,000 plots have been in illegal possession in Karachi.

The KDA conducted its maximum anti-encroachment work in Gulistan-e-Jauhar Scheme 36, the report said. The authority also got 26 amenity plots vacated in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

The authority informed the apex court that 1874 encroached plots were freed from illegal possession in Gulshan Iqbal. The possession of nine amenity plots and 90 open spaces were also taken back from the grabbers, according to the report.

In Surjani Town Scheme-41, 904 illegally grabbed plots were freed from possession, in North Karachi 284 plots and in Korangi 248 plots were returned back.

Moreover, 43 plots in Landhi and 39 in Federal B Area were got returned back to the government in KDA’s campaign against illegal occupation of the state land, the report said.

The authority conducted its drive against encroachment and land grabbing with assistance from the Police and Rangers, the report added.

The KMC in its report on anti-encroachment drive in the city said that the city authority demolished 1194 illegal shops at eight city areas during its six-day campaign.