KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Saturday vowed to implement the Supreme Court’s orders regarding the removal of illegal constructions in Karachi.
The apex court had on Friday directed the federal authorities to take action against unauthorised constructions and encroachments in Karachi’s PNT Colony, Delhi Colony and Punjab Colony and asked the Sindh government to carry out planned development work at Nehr-i-Khayyam in Clifton.
Talking to reporters in Karachi, Shah said the Sindh government had wanted to carry out development work at the Nehr-i-Khayyam and make changes to Submarine Chowrangi underpass but some people had approached courts and obtained stay orders against the projects.
But he said following the orders the issued by the CJP, the stay orders given by lowers courts will stand “null and void”, which will support the provincial government.
Noting that a large number of people are involved in illegal constructions, the minister said a vigilance committee of the government had removed 900 illegal structures in the city. He acknowledged, however, that because Karachi is such a large city, authorised construction still continues in many areas.
“Actions were taken against people involved in such [constructions] in the past and will be taken in the future as well,” he said.
Responding to a question about the CJP’s direction to restore the past glory of Karachi, Shah said while he could not comment on the top judge’s remark, “Clearly, if you back many years back, the population of this city was much lower and there is a big difference between the conditions of that time and the present.”
He expressed the hope that the CJP will also take action against “illegal immigrants” and other people from abroad living illegally in the country.
A three-judge SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, had on Friday expressed resentment over the federal and provincial authorities for not properly implementing its May 2019 order regarding the removal of encroachments and unauthorised buildings.
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