ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday issued contempt of court notices to Sindh government and Pakistan Railways and ordered DG Frontier Works Organization (FWO) to personally appear before the court in Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) case.

As per details, Supreme Court in its notices, inquired as to why the court order was not complied with despite departmental correspondence. The Secretary Railways and the Chief Secretary have committed contempt of court, it stated.

Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed asked that why Karachi Circular Railway was not launched. Now the matter will not stop here and everyone will be called and if needed, the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Sindh will also be summoned, he remarked.

On February 21, the Supreme Court had ordered to make Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) operational within six months.

The Supreme Court has ordered both the Chief Secretary Sindh and Secretary Pakistan Railways to submit their written reply within two weeks, detailing why they have failed in clearing the track of the KCR.

The bench, during today’s hearing, remarked that why the work on the KCR has not started yet, despite clear orders of the SC.

Will summon Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah if needed, CJP Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked.

The chief secretary Sindh and secretary PR and DG FWO have been directed to appear before the court on the next hearing.

The KCR project is 12.63 kilometres at grade (on the ground), and 30.75 kilometres elevated with 24 railway stations out of which 14 will be elevated. The average distance between each station will be 1.8 kilometres.

Back in March, Federal Minister for Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed had expressed the confidence that Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) would be operationalized in six months in collaboration with the Sindh government. NNI