Tag: encroachment

  • Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed retires tomorrow

    Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed retires tomorrow

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed reties on Tuesday (tomorrow). Justice Gulzar had taken oath as the CJP in December 2019.

    CJP Gulzar mainly focused on removing encroachments in Karachi. He ordered the demolition of Nasla Tower as well as illegal houses built around Gujjar Nullah. In the end, he also ordered the relevant authorities to end commercial activities on military land in Karachi.

    Justice Gulzar further ordered to demolish a mosque and other encroachments built on amenity parks near Tariq Road in Karachi. Despite strong protests, he did not withdraw any order for the removal of encroachments in Karachi.

    CJP Gulzar could not give attention to reforms to improve the criminal justice system like his predecessor former CJP Asif Saeed Khosa.

    A three-judge bench led by him summoned Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan in a suo motu case on the martyrdom of children in the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar attack.

    The efforts of Justice Gulzar cannot be ignored to end the sense of insecurity among minority communities. He took courageous steps to send a strong message to extremist elements that the judiciary would not spare anyone involved in usurping the rights of minorities.

    Taking to Twitter, federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary said, “The historic stand CJP Gulzar has taken on minority places of worship has greatly enhanced his prestige, at a time when India’s judiciary seems helpless at the hands of extremists.”

    The outgoing CJP also made history by nominating Lahore High Court’s Justice Ayesha Malik for her appointment as the first female judge of the Supreme Court.

    Justice Umar Ata Bandial will replace Justice Gulzar Ahmed, and will take oath as Pakistan’s 28th Chief Justice of Pakistan on February 2.

  • SC orders to demolish Aladin Shopping Mall and Pavilion End Club in Karachi within two days

    SC orders to demolish Aladin Shopping Mall and Pavilion End Club in Karachi within two days

    The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the authorities to demolish Aladin Shopping Mall and Pavilion End Club in Karachi within two days, reports Samaa. An anti-encroachment drive ordered by the SC has been underway in various parts of the city.

    Demonstrators gathered on Tuesday to protest against shops being demolished. Shopkeepers protested on the road when the operation began. They were baton-charged by the police. Protesters threw stones at the law enforcement personnel.

    Director Anti-Encroachment Bashir Siddiqui, who was leading the operation, said there is stiff resistance from the shopkeepers.

    In a hearing on Monday, the SC declared the buildings illegal.“The land was unlawfully converted into a commercial area,” Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed said.

    Justice Gulzar instructed the police and Rangers to begin the operation immediately. “Permission for commercial activity on land allotted to parks won’t be given at any cost,” the chief justice added.

    However, Aladin Amusement Park and Pavilion End Club managements have asked the Supreme Court to review its decision.

    Pavilion End Club employs more than 600 people, who dedicate their services to uplift the mood and experience of the visiting public and whose livelihood will be lost by the SC’s sudden decision, it said in a statement.

    Demolishing them at such short notice will cause “distress to thousands of families who depend on it for their livelihood and those that depend on it for safe recreation staffed by a large group of security guards who maintain law and order and security to keep the facility safe and secure.”