KARACHI: On Tuesday, the apex court directed the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to submit a report before the court regarding a case about the removal of illegal encroachments in Karachi.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Gulzar Ahmed, presided the Supreme Court registry hearing in Karachi. The CJP expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of authorities to present the report on the anti-encroachment measures and summoned the Chief Minister of Sindh, advocate general, secretary local government, and Karachi’s commissioner.
During the court proceedings, the court sought a report on the updates on compliance with the directives it had given to the Sindh government. Karachi Commissioner Navid Ahmed Shaikh informed the court that he had been appointed recently and had not yet compiled a report.
Noting the lack of preparedness of the commissioner, CJP remarked, “Shall we frame charges against you and send you to jail as you are unaware of the issues this city faces?”
He further remarked that the case had been underway for four years, without any result. “A multi-story building is built on a one-story building permit. Government lands are out of your hands.”
CM Murad appeared before the bench and requested two weeks to present the report. He was accompanied by Murtaza Wahab and provincial minister for local government Nasir Shah.
The court has given Sindh chief minister one month to submit a report.
