The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday gave the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) administrator more time to submit details of nine amenity plots which were auctioned by it for generating revenue. Headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, a SHC division bench had taken up a petition filed by Shamim Ahmed and other residents of North Karachi, who have taken local administration to the court for unlawfully selling plots earmarked for community garden and playground in North Karachi.
The petitioners had submitted that the KMC officials illegally sold out the plot No ST-9 admeasuring 1,200 square yards, which was reserved for the community garden and playground. They said the amenity plot was reserved to be used for the recreational purposes by then Karachi Development Authority (KDA) but the KMC authorities auctioned it, which was violation of the laws.
In response to the petitioners' contention, KMC counsel Azra Muqeem told the court that the KMC had filed a statement along with the list of the community gardens which were sold by it through public auction. She said nine plots were auctioned for the community purpose but she could not spell out the community purpose for which they were sold.
Earlier, while observing that the KMC counsel had totally failed to point out the community purpose for which the plots were sold out, the bench directed the KMC administrator to appear in the court and submit details about the up-to-date status of all nine plots, the purpose for which they were auctioned and present position of business which was being run on the plots. The court also required him to submit first master layout plan of the plots before it. On Wednesday, the KMC counsel told the court that KMC has become non-functional on account of ongoing defence exhibition and seminar, the IDEAS 2014, at Expo Center and requested it to give more time to file compliance report. While granting her request, the court adjourned the hearing till December 17.
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