Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday ordered the shifting of oil tankers' terminal from Shireen Jinnah Colony to Zulfiqarabad in 15 days and declared that no oil tanker should be seen parked at Shireen Jinnah Colony after 15 days.
At Karachi Registry of Supreme Court, the larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar resumed the hearing on the case pertaining to shifting of oil tankers' terminal from Shireen Jinnah Colony to Zaulfiqarabad in Karachi. Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar and representatives of Tankers Associations appeared in the proceedings.
Tankers' Association chairman Yousaf Shahwani informed the court that they were only provided 130 acres out of the total 200 acres at the new venue. CJP inquired from the Mayor about the discrepancy, who disputed the statistics and asked the court to send its official for inspection to ascertain the fact. Wasim told the court that oil tankers' owners are not willing to shit to Zaufliqarabad terminal, which has been completed a year ago.
"We are ready to move to new site. Mayor Karachi is lying", Shahwani stated which triggered sharp remarks from CJP, who reprimanded oil tankers association chief for ridiculing Mayor Karachi.
The chief justice then ordered the shifting of the terminal in 15 days and remarked that no tanker should be seen parked in Shireen Jinnah Colony after two weeks. He also warned to lock up anyone who observes a strike on the matter.
When Shahwani asserted that shifting the terminal would not be possible in such short notice, the chief justice asked him to show some love for the country.
CJP ordered Mayor Karachi to visit Zaulfiqarabad terminal and appraise the court about the situation on ground.
This was the second time when apex court ordered the shifting of oil tankers from Shireen Jinnah to Zaulifqarabad terminal when on April 28 this year, apex court had ordered shifting of all oil tankers to the Zulfikarabad terminal in fifteen days.