Karachi: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday was informed by the lawyer representing the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) that the concrete structure being built around the historic Frere Hall Gardens is part of a beautification campaign, according to news sources.
This development has been spurred in response to the verdict issued on June 20 by a single bench of SHC for the immediate demolition of concrete structures being developed around the iconic landmark. The court also issued a show-cause notice to the city administrator and also suspended his intrusion in any heritage site through an interim order.
The lawyer representing KMC and the Karachi administrator argued that the mandatory injunction for demolition of the structure can only be carried out after due notice. He said that an arch was being developed on the premises as part of a beautification exercise and that the administrator hasn’t violated any laws.
The two-judge SHC bench has given notice on July 15 to the respondents and Advocate General Sindh for the case and asked the appellants to maintain the status quo regarding the construction work. The demolition has also been halted, and the show-cause notice issued in the previous hearing has been suspended as well.
Reportedly, the petition against the beautification campaign cited that the development work was being executed to privitise and gentrify the site, which has existed for 160 years and holds value for all citizens.
Nauman Ahmad is an imaginative Pisces whose love for literature and nature is unparalleled. When he's not reading or hiking, he's sleeping and eating, which gives him plenty of energy for his next adventure.
