KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has summoned an official of the Frontier Works Organi­sation (FWO) along with a compliance report about removal of concrete batching plants occupying a portion of a park in North Nazimabad.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi said that as an indulgence, a last chance was being given to the project director of the FWO for compliance till May 11.

A petition was filed last year contending that a park located in North Nazimabad Block L had been encroached upon as the FWO had installed batching plants and dumped other construction material on the premises of the park.

Earlier, a lawyer for the FWO informed the court that the organisation had undertaken to vacate the public amenity park by the first week of March. However, on April 14, the lawyer for the petitioner argued that despite an undertaking given by the FWO the batching plants had not been removed yet.

Thereafter, the bench had summoned the project director for April 26 and also directed him to do the needful before the next hearing as per undertaking and court order passed in this regard and also warned that in case of non-compliance, an appropriate order will be issued for defiance by delinquent persons.

Residents move SHC against FWO for occupying a North Nazimabad park

When the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, the lawyer for the FWO contended that the project director was out of station and requested for a short adjournment to make compliance with the court orders.

“As an indulgence and as a last chance we are adjourning this matter to 11th May, 2023 at 11:00am, when the concerned project director shall be present in court along with compliance,” the bench in its order said.

On Jan 10, the FWO undertook to remove the machinery from the park while the lawyers for the petitioners argued that for the loss caused to petitioners and area people, FWO may be directed to ensure that the park at the time of vacating be brought up in a good condition.

Subsequently, the bench had also asked the respondent to make a statement as to up-keeping of the park at the time of removing machinery.

Impleading the Karachi Municipal Corporation, Karachi Development Authority, deputy commissioner of Central, FWO, Sindh Environmental Protection Agency and others as respondents, Mohammad Ameen Khan and four other residents of the area petitioned the SHC and submitted that the park, namely Jafico Ground located near Landi Kotal roundabout in North Nazimabad Block L, was well maintained till last year as plants, flowers and benches had been installed for area people.

However, the petitioners argued that in September last year, the FWO had parked two dumper trucks, and dumped crush and bricks on the premises of the park on the pretext of renovation of the recreational facility.

Thereafter, the petitioners contended that the FWO in the presence of the local administration had installed heavy machinery on a portion of the park in violation of fundamental rights of the petitioners.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2023