Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa is set to preside over a crucial hearing tomorrow, addressing a petition filed by former Karachi nazim Naimatullah Khan in 2010. The petition seeks the intervention of the apex court to reclaim amenity plots from “land mafia and political parties” in Karachi, along with around 145 other related cases concerning encroachments, illegal constructions, and residential-to-commercial property conversions.
A three-judge Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice Isa and comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, will convene at the apex court’s Karachi Registry to deliberate on these matters. Notices have been issued to various provincial and federal authorities, including the Sindh chief minister, chief secretary, and officials of government departments, to appear before the court on April 25.
The hearing marks a significant development in the long-standing legal battle initiated by former Karachi nazim Naimatullah Khan over 14 years ago. Khan’s petition aimed to reclaim over 160 amenity plots and has since seen numerous civil miscellaneous applications filed by interveners seeking involvement in the case.
Among the issues to be addressed during the hearing are allegations of private hospitals operating on amenity plots, encroachments around city drains, restoration of public parks, and matters concerning the Karachi Circular Railway.
Additionally, the bench will review CMAs related to resettlement and compensation for affectees of various nullahs, provision of water to DHA residents, construction on Karachi Gymkhana premises, and suspected commercial activities in public spaces like Askari Park and Burns Road food street.
In a separate development, the Supreme Court dismissed an application against the cancellation of a 5,000-square-yard amenity plot in Karachi. The court directed the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) to investigate the possibility of converting the plot into a public park, emphasizing the importance of preserving amenity lands for the benefit of the community.
As Karachi grapples with issues of encroachment and misuse of public spaces, Chief Justice Isa’s hearing holds promise for addressing these longstanding challenges and ensuring the preservation of Karachi’s urban infrastructure for future generations.
