Aaj Logo

Published 28 Dec, 2021 06:24pm

SC directs demolition of illegal constructions on Hill Park land in Karachi

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the authorities to retrieve the land belonging to Karachi's Kidney Hill Park and ordered the demolition of all illegal construction including a mosque, shrine and graveyard.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed during the hearing in Karachi Registry directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to ensure the protection of park's land from all types of illegal construction.

The court was informed about the construction of Al-Fateh mosque on the upper section of the land meant for a park.

Khwaja Shams, the counsel representing the mosque, argued that the land for the mosque was obtained from KMC through auction.

Shams told the court that during its previous hearing, the court had directed demarcation of the mosque to which the court replied that the master plan of the park never included the mosque.

CJP Gulzar directed the authorities not to stop anyone from offering prayers in any spot in the park.

The apex court also observed that KMC has no authority to issue permit for the construction of mosque.

While rejecting the review plea filed by the mosque's administration, the court directed the authorities to return the land to the KMC.

The court also came down on Assistant Commissioner Asma Batool after Shams accused her of permitting the construction of another mosque and a shrine close to Al-Fateh Mosque.

The Overseas Pakistani Cooperative Housing Society had constructed bungalows and dairy farms on the amenity land claiming that the land was allotted to it by the Karachi Development Authority (KDA).

In 2018 the society management took a stay against these illegal construction from Sindh High Court (SHC).

In 2019 the Supreme Court annulling the stay order directed the authorities to demolish the illegal constructions.

Read Comments