KARACHI: A two-member bench headed by Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi heard the Global Foundation’s petition in the Sindh High Court against illegal charging parking and collection of additional fees in Karachi.
Petitioner Ahmed Dawood said that illegally charged parking areas have been set up at various places in the city. Arbitrary parking fees are being collected from citizens in different areas, motorcycle parking fees are being charged at Rs 30 instead of Rs 10 while car parking fees is being charged at Rs 100 instead of Rs 100.
The business of illegal charged parking is on the rise under the alleged patronage of local bodies and police. If the parking mafia is not paid, threats of serious consequences are given by the mafia. If a citizen comes to a bazaar with his family and refuses to pay the parking fee, then the mafia operators will get the vehicle lift with the connivance of the police.
The Director Charged Parking South has been repeatedly complained that parking mafia has taken over the area outside MA Jinnah Road, Kharadar, Saddar, Clifton, Bolton Market, Tower, Jamia Cloth, Boat Basin and other small and big markets. And they are collecting extra money from the citizens but no action has been taken by DMC South.
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The court asked DMC South where the parking money is spent. DMC South’s lawyer said that all this money is spent on road repairs, to which the court expressed strong displeasure and said that the roads have been damaged.
Petitioner’s lawyer Nasir Rizwan Khan said that no one is ready to take action. Citizens are fed up with the parking mafia. The court summoned Director Charged Parking KMC and Director Charged Parking South on February 21 and adjourned the hearing.
