A petition had been filed earlier by Kamran Muhammad Sher who complained that many people had their shops within the hotel and the authorities were refusing to pay them any compensation for their loss. Their belongings had already been removed from the premises.
SHC has not only stopped the demolition but has also stopped any sale transaction of the hotel for the time being.
Earlier last year, Chief Justice Sindh Murad Ali Shah had committed to buy the land of the hotel to construct a park for the elderly and the children noticing the unique land area of the hotel at the crossroads.
Read: Sindh to acquire Metropole Hotel to build park for children, senior citizen
SHC has also discussed demolishing the Sea Breeze Plaza located on main MA Jinnah Road as it might be dangerous. The owner of the building has protested that the building is safe as it is not showing any signs of tilting. The SHC has ordered Nespak and engineers to prepare a report and give it to Karachi Cantonment Board.
Illegal use of Parks and Playgrounds
Karachi Mayor stated that they had cleared the parks from any illegal occupation. “All illegal commercial activities carried out within YMCI have also been stopped,” he added. This includes halting all wedding ceremonies which were being carried out on the grounds. The Mayor reported that a hockey ground is being made instead.
Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed has ordered for greenery to be planted in the ground and has also directed that the surrounding boundary wall should be broken down and replaced with a steel fence.
Illegal buildings in Sindhi Muslim Society
Chief Justice has ordered the removal of DG Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) Zafar Ahsan from his office. He has expressed disbelief that china-cutting was done in Sindhi Muslim Society and remarked that it should be done all over Kahsmir Highway.
He questioned that why was a building constructed over a drainage plot.
He also looked into construction of illegal buildings opposite Bar B Q Tonight and stated that these had been constructed over land originally allotted for the parking of parks.
