The Supreme Court has sought details of the revenue so far generated from Karachi’s Askari Park and directed the authorities concerned to hand over the land to the city metropolitan corporation, Aaj News reported.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Qazi Mohammad Amin gave the orders while hearing a petition pertaining to the commercial activities at the park.

A three-judge SC bench on November 25 bench issued notices to the Karachi administrator, commander engineer, Corps-V, and others on an application against using the Askari Park near old Sabzi Mandi for commercial purposes.

At the outset of the hearing on Monday, the Corps-V submitted its report on the park’s activities before the apex court. The defence institution was given the land based on an agreement, the Askari Park lawyer said, adding that they would return the land when the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation would ask.

“You were given the land so no one could occupy it,” CJ Gulzar said, adding that shops and wedding halls should be demolished and the land should be returned to the KMC.

The lawyer said that they have ended the commercial activities at the park.

Justice Amin said: “You are sacrificing your lives for the country [and] we value that. Return the land [to the original owner].” He added that every institution has its working responsibilities and so as the army.

“Army should do the work for which it is responsible,” he added and advised the lawyer to keep the army away from the controversies.