KARACHI: Administrator Karachi Iftikhar Ali Shallwani has said that a scheme has been prepared with Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) to resolve sewerage issues around the City Court on a permanent basis.

“We do understand difficulties being faced by litigants and lawyers. Karachi Metropolitan Corporation would fully cooperate with Karachi Bar Association for resolving the issues,” the Administrator passed these remarks while addressing an event hosted by Karachi Bar Association in his honour.

President Karachi Bar Association Munir Ahmed Malik Advocate, General Secretary GM Korai, Joint Secretary Nadeem Mangi, Spokesman Anwar Memon, Treasurer Shanti Devi, Nadeem Shaikh Advocate, Saleem Michael, Bar members and KMC officials were also present on the occasion.

Shallwani said that it is one of the busiest places as hundreds of cases are heard in the City Court on daily basis while accused from across the city are also brought here that’s why it was city government’s responsibility to resolve civic issues here.

He asked the bar association to make a scheme of worth Rs 10 million to redress issues including renovation of the City Court library, offices and plantation, adding that the KMC would work on the scheme.

“Legal fraternity is most respectable as it strives to get justice for the people,” he added. Shallwani said that they wanted to resolve parking woes around the City Court, adding that like other big cities of the world, Karachi too has parking issues. “We want to ensure only one lane parking on the roads to ensure smooth flow of traffic,” he said.

The Administrator was of the view that footpaths are the rights of pedestrians and all establishments would be removed from footpaths to make it easier for pedestrians. He suggested that “Car Free Day” could be observed on every Sunday when cars should not be bought on the roads except for any essential work.

Speaking on the occasion, Karachi Bar Association President Munir Ahmed Malik Advocate said that thousands of accused are brought to the court daily. “There are 400 judges and judicial magistrates at the city court and the number of judicial staff is around 3000. Around 7,000 lawyers appear daily to represent the litigants and accused persons,” he said and added it was one of the busiest places and civic issues including sewerage and parking should be resolved at the earliest.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020