KARACHI: Supreme Court has ordered on Friday to Federal and Provincial governments to draft a comprehensive plan for the Karachi.
Chief Justice made these remarks while hearing the case in Karachi registry.
He remarked that katchi abadis in Lines Area should be removed and the residents transferred to multi-storey buildings. “They [katchi abadis] hang from Quaid-i-Azam’s mausoleum like a decorative piece of jewelry. A flyover should not have been constructed in the area,” he observed.
The attorney general replied that officials can sit down with the Sindh government and the cantonment board to draw up a plan for this.
This prompted Justice Arab to question officials about land allotment. “Why didn’t you keep land aside for playgrounds and parks when you were allotting land for Bahria Town and other [housing schemes],” he questioned.
“It saddens us greatly that you yourself are not thinking about this,” he said.
Addressing the Sindh advocate general, the CJP said: “Why are you not legislating, Should we make the laws for you? We will not form a committee or any commission, you will have to act upon the law.”
The official replied that if you rely only upon the Sindh government, everything will appear “white washed”. “If there is something to be fixed only you can fix it,” he replied.
“If it is not done today, then 20 years down the line another attorney general and advocate general will be saying the same thing [as we are today],” he said.
The issue will not be resolved until the relevant authorities are fixed, observed Justice Shah.
Addressing the Sindh advocate general, the CJP said: “This is a city of tens of millions. We do not wish to say something that may cause harm. [At the same time], we cannot see anything that is promising.
The official replied that approximately 6,000 people have been made homeless due to removing encroachments from the railway tracks.
The CJP remarked: “You only look at it from a voter’s angle. If you are so concerned about them, then you should come up with the necessary legislation to give them homes.”
The advocate general maintained that the federal government currently owes the provincial government Rs100 billion. “The attorney general will also tell you this,” he said, adding that on paper Rs105 billion was spent on Thar but the reality was very different.
“All of the money went abroad. If this money also surfaces, it will likely vanish,” the CJP said, before asking the chief secretary whether a town planners committee had been constituted.
“A committee of experts has begun work. We have sent recommendations to the cabinet, so it may take further time,” the chief secretary replied.
Asking the officials for advice, the court remarked: “Give us suggestions for eliminating encroachments, for resettling katchi abadis and for helping those affected by this.”
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