The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday issued notice to federal authorities, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Bahria Town management and other official respondents to submit their respective comments on a petition against construction of Bahria Town Icon Tower in Clifton area. A division bench headed by Justice Irfan Saddat Khan also issued a notice to federal and provincial law officer and adjourned the hearing of case till April 03.
The petitioners, Begum Furkhunda and two others, residents of 26th Street Phase IV DHA, stated before the court that Bahria Town had launched a project titled "Bahria Town Icon Tower" located near Abdullah Shah Ghazi's shrine in Clifton in sheer violation of provisions of section 12 of Pakistan Environment Act 1997 and Regulations framed under such law. They claimed that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which was necessary before the starting of such huge project had not been conducted by the Bahria Town and official authorities had also opined in their reports about the blockage and bottlenecks that would be created due to the project. The project will encroach upon Ibn-Qasim Park and heritage declared site 'Jehangir Kothari Parade,' they said. The petitioners said that due to such objections and legal infirmities, the construction work on the project had been started. If an appropriate action is not taken against Bahria Town, it would badly affect the citizens of Karachi, especially the residents of DHA and people visiting the area.
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