KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has reserved its judgment on a constitutional petition filed against the alleged illegal occupation and construction on the land of Quaid-e-Azam Park, located in Shah Faisal Colony.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, Usman Farooq, argued that unidentified individuals are attempting to seize the park’s land. He informed the court that while the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had handed over control of the park to the Town Municipal Corporation (TMC), illegal walls and structures were being erected despite the transfer.
The counsel further stated that multiple complaints were lodged with the Director General (DG) Parks, Commissioner Karachi, and other relevant authorities, but no effective action was taken to halt the encroachment. He argued that under the Sindh Building Control Ordinance, amenity plots cannot be repurposed, citing several Supreme Court rulings that strictly prohibit commercial activities on public welfare land.
The petition, moved by Saifuddin, Chairman of UC-2 Al-Falah, Shah Faisal Town, requests the court to declare all ongoing construction and encroachments within Quaid-e-Azam Park as illegal. It further seeks directives for the KMC, Commissioner Karachi, and Police to clear the land and issue a permanent injunction restraining any party from using the park land for non-amenity purposes.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, the SHC bench reserved its verdict, which is expected to be announced soon.
