KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has banned the commercial use of lands allotted for defence purposes and restrained the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) from seashore land reclamation activities until November 16.
According to the order dated 22/10/2021, the High Court has also ordered an inspection of the reclaimed land and has sought a report on the commercial use of the defence lands within 15 days.
The Sindh High Court order came on a petition filed by half a dozen plaintiffs, mostly residents of DHA Karachi. The 38 defendants named in the petition include the federal government, Sindh government, DHA, cantonment boards, port authorities, Sindh Environmental Protection Agency, Civil Aviation Authority, and Military Estate Office.
The SHC said in its orders that commercial use of Nueplex Cinemas in DHA Karachi, Falcon Mall at Shahrah-e-Faisal, Signature and Imperial banquet halls at Dalmia Road, Imtiaz Super Store in Zamzama, marriage halls in Askari-4, banquet halls in DHA Phase-7 and 8 should be stopped.
“Till the next date of hearing, the defendants are restrained from reclaiming any further land from any shores existing in the territorial justrisdiction of this court, or granting any such land to anyone, or creating any third party interest on these lands or properties built thereon, or changing such lands’ use”, the Sindh High Court ordered.
About the commercial use of defence lands, the court ordered the official defendants to “ensure that lands and premises earlier sanctioned to them as public spaces for the purpose of parking or facilitating the public at large including parks and amenities should not be used for any commercial or gainful purpose, as well as for holding of any functions, including marriage or social gathering functions, generating any sort of revenue for the defendants, till the next date of hearing,” according to the written order.
The court has set the next hearing for November 16, 2021. The court has appointed an “official assignee” to “inspect and furnish a detailed report with photographs and maps of the reclaimed lands and details of commercial places within fifteen days.”
