SC orders mayor, police to end encroachments in Karachi

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Saturday directed Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar to remove all encroachments from the city’s amenity plots and pavements with the help of law enforcement agencies.

This direction came during hearing of a case with regard to illegal occupations at the apex court’s Karachi registry.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, who headed a three-judge bench, directed the authorities to deal with law and order situation arising from an operation against encroachment as per laws.

The court set a 15-day deadline for compliance of its orders.

Karachi police chief Dr Amir Sheikh assured the court of extending full cooperation to the municipal authorities in ending encroachments.

Wasim Akhtar informed that 70 percent  area of Saddar’s Empress Market has been cleared of encroachment at which the chief justice said encroachment should also be removed from its surrounding areas.

Justice Nisar directed him to also remove encroachments from pavements across the city.

The mayor asked if non-government organizations which provide food to the poor at footpaths should be spared in the anti-encroachment operation, to which the chief justice instructed that they should be provided alternative spaces for the purpose.

Meanwhile, a lawyer alleged that MQM-P leaders Babar Ghauri and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui sold out lands in North Nazimabad.

At this, the top judge said he has tasked the city mayor to clean up the metropolis.