KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued orders to continue the anti-encroachment drive in the metropolis, GEO Tv reported.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar was hearing a case pertaining to encroachments in the city.
During the hearing, the federal and provincial government and Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar submitted a report on the ongoing Supreme Court-mandated anti-encroachment operation in the city. In the report, the federal, Sindh and civil government agreed to continue the operation in the city.
The court then ordered the authorities to continue the anti-encroachment drive. Justice Nisar in his remarks stated that the houses and markets located on amenity plots should be ordered to vacate premises in 45 days instead of the original 15 days.
Later, Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar said the city authorities have identified six districts for the ongoing anti-encroachment operation in the metropolis.
The encroachments in these districts will be removed in a systematic manner and any amenity plots illegally occupied will be evacuated, he told reporters outside the Supreme Court’s Karachi registry.
“Plans of what has been done and what we are going to do have been submitted in the court. The top court has issued clear orders after which operation against illegal wedding halls and buildings on drains will be conducted,” he informed. “When the Supreme Court issues an order every institution comes under it,” he said.
Akhtar added that they do not want to cause trouble for anyone no matter what language they speak. “We do not want to finish anyone’s business,” he added.
Akhtar continued, “Encroachments were only removed from Saddar and Empress Market. A request for Rs200 million has been made to remove rubble from footpaths. The court has ordered the Sindh government to release the funds as soon as possible.”