CJP orders to demolish structure built on land of Karachi Circular Railways

KARACHI (92 News) – While hearing a case pertaining to restoration of Karachi Circular Railways (KCR), Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) on Thursday ordered the commissioner Karachi to demolish the structure built on the land immediately and the plot should be handed over to the concerned department. A three member-bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by the chief justice heard the KCR case at Karachi Registry. Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah were other two members of the bench. During the hearing, the SC declared transfer of the land adjacent to Alladin Park as unlawful. “How could the land be granted without auction,” the CJP asked. “If a piece of land could be given in other countries in this manner,” the chief justice said. The court cancelled the lease of the plot adjacent to Alladin Park. During conversation with the Sindh chief secretary, the chief justice said that the Sindh chief minister (CM) should tell the court in writing why he is not allowing the local governments to become functional. “There is no truth in the Mayor Karachi’s claim that he is powerless,” Advocate General Sindh argued in the court. “Tell the court what powers he is enjoying,” the chief justice asked. The court also asked the authorities about the work for restoration of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR). “Why the KCR was not revived,” the chief justice asked the Secretary Railways. “Instead of its restoration the project was added in the CPEC,” the court remarked. “The responsibility was taken by the government of Sindh,” the secretary said. “We don’t want to hear this, tell the court why the decision was not implemented,” the court asked. The court warned of issuing the contempt of court notices to the Sindh CM, Mayor Waseem Akhtar and the Railways secretary during the hearing. Earlier, Federal Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that he is ready to cooperate for Karachi Circular Railways in every way. Speaking at a news conference today, Sheikh Rasheed has said that the railway had increased from 7 to 8 million passengers. “Four major properties in Sindh will be taken back through the Supreme Court (SC). The British had made such a map that railway land cannot be occupied,” he explained. He said that the track of Karachi Circular Railways will be restored within fifteen days. “We are implementing order of Supreme Court for Karachi Circular Railway Project,” he added. He said that Chief Secretary Sindh has been informed about thirty-eight Kilometers track.