KARACHI: The Deputy Commissioner (East), the Anti-Encroachment Cell, and other civic authorities have been ordered by the Sindh High Court (SHC) to clear all public property in Sohrab Goth of encroachments.
The SHC ordered the area to be restored to its original position by the master plan and remove all forms of encroachments from public properties, including service roads, green belts, and footpaths.
These directives were given in response to a petition against unlawful parking and encroachments on greenbelts and public spaces in Sohrab Goth and adjacent District East localities.
Justice Nadeem Akhtar of the high court noted that it was well-established that public property was intended for the use, enjoyment, and profit of the general public and could not be exploited by any individual or authority.
The SHC remarked that the government, municipal officials, and all of its employees must protect public property against all encroachments and claims.
According to the Sindh Public Property (Removal of Encroachment) Act 2010, trespassing on public property is illegal, and those who do so are subject to the penalties outlined in Section 8 of the legislation.
The Supreme Court had also ordered the protection of public properties from abuse and encroachments in its numerous judgments, the court said, adding that any crime against public property was a crime against the people.
The SHC ordered the Deputy Commissioner East and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to remove all encroachments and restore the public property, including service roads, green belts, and walkways, to its original and real location as per the master plan.
Besides, the high court further ordered the provincial IGP and the DG of the Rangers to guarantee that the court decision was followed in letter and spirit by giving anti-encroachment officers the necessary force, assistance, and protection when encroachments were being removed.
The SHC instructed the police chief to make sure that traffic police were properly deployed to prohibit unauthorized and unlawful commercial vehicle parking on any area of the concerned public property.
