The Sindh High Court has stopped the Cantonment Board from sealing as many as 47 auto shops and showrooms in DHA Phase I and II on Friday. It also sought legalization of proceedings from the board that runs the municipal activities in the area.

Advocate Mazhan Buledi said that action was taken against auto workshops based on the claims that there were “junkyards” in Phase I and II. The law under which the action was taken does not apply, he added.

The Cantonment lawyer contended that auto shops and showrooms occupy the space till the streets. Despite warnings, he added that the encroachments were not removed.

Cantonment has the discretion to take action in such situations, the lawyer said.

The court sought an explanation over the Cantonment’s “discretion”. To this, the lawyer sought time to submit a reply.

Later, the court issued an injunction order — a court order that prohibits an action by a party to a lawsuit until there was a trial or other court action.

Background

In Karachi’s Defence Phase II, several auto workshops have existed for years in an otherwise residential area. Most of them have been set up on the ground level of apartment buildings.

When denters and mechanics work, the sound of repeated hammering or car engines revving annoys people living above. Additionally, they park cars on the road reducing the space for other vehicles to pass.

Mechanics and car owners, on the other hand, fear that action against workshops may lead to a drastic change that will see workshops being relocated to another area.