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2009 SCMR 1387

Syed JAVED HAIDER KAZMI vs PROVINCE OF SINDH and others

Citation2009 SCMR 1387
CourtSupreme Court of Pakistan
Case No.Civil Petition No,231-K of 2008
Date2008-10-23
Judge(s)Mian Hamid Farooq, Syed Zawwar Hussain Jaffery
ResultPetition dismissed

ORDER

' MIAN HAMID FAROOQ, J.--- Petitioner, seeks leave to appeal, against order, dated 7-2-2008, whereby the learned Division Bench of the High Court of Sindh at Karachi, disposed of his constitutional petition (C.P. No,123 of 2007) with certain observations.

2. Petitioner, Advocate by profession, in public interest litigation, filed the constitutional petition against the respondents, inter alia, pleading that nature of Park Plot in the name of "Baloch Park", which had been used as public park since pre-partition, has been changed and so many persons illegally encroached upon the land and constructed shops with collusion of corrupt staff of Ex- Karachi Municipal Corporation; City District Government, Karachi, started constructed of a Community Centre/Computer Centre; the city park is being converted into commercial unit which is not permissible under the law; the people of the locality were using the park by playing different games and' construction of community centre/computer centre deprived these persons from using the park. In the said backdrop, the petitioner sought following relief in the writ petition:--- "It is, therefore, respectfully, prayed that Honourable Court may be pleased to issue writ and/or other appropriate order and declaration:---

(a) To direct the respondents Nos.2 and 3 to stop immediate construction of the Community Centre/Computer Centre.

(b) To direct respondent No,4 to demolish the construction raised for Community Centre/Computer Centre and the structure of two rooms constructed near the left side main entrance gate of the park, as that Balouch Park may be restored to its original position.

(c) Any other relief/relief(s) which this Honourable Court may deem fit and proper in the interest of justice."

3. It appears for the record that respondents Nos.1 to 4 contested the petition and submitted that the plot has been utilized towards I.T. Centre/Park and that they will facilitate the residents of the locality by providing them a clean atmosphere in the park. Respondent No,3, in its comments, while admitting major assertions of the petitioner took the stance that the park could not be developed due to shortage of funds and now the funds are available and the Park is being developed on modern facilities known as IT. Park. These comments are reproduced below:--- "Comments of respondent No,3 on Behalf of Saddar Town It is respectfully submitted in the above noted matter as under:---

(1) That the petitioner has misled the matter before this Honourable Court with mala fide intentions.

(2) That the park in question is in existence since very long time

(3) That due to shortage of funds, the Park in question was not developed.

' That at present the funds are available to meet the required expenses.

(5) That now the park in question is being developed on modern facilities known as I.T. Park.

(6) That the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan, has held that the open spaces meant for parks, gardens, play grounds etc., are necessary for the physical and mental health of the Society.

(7) That the park in question cannot be leased/allotted to any person under, the law.

(8) That the park in question is based on Jagging Tracks, Small Cricket Pitch for children, Trees Plantation all around the park with coconut trees, greening and benches for sitting for the public- at-large.

' In view, of the above submissions before the Honourable Court, it is respectfully submitted that the application of the applicant may kindly be dismissed keeping in view the interest of publicat- large."

' The learned Division Bench of the High Court of Sindh, Karachi, after hearing the parties disposed of the petitioner's constitutional petition vide order, dated 7-2-2008. Operative part whereof is reproduced below:-- "We order that existing status of the plot to be maintained and park be developed expeditiously providing thereby recreation to the children and a walking track for the visitors while no further construction for any other purposes to be raised. The learned counsel for the respondents to ensure that the park is utilized without any restrictions but within the given timings of morning and evening. The photographs placed by the learned counsel for the petitioner are taken on record."

' Hence the present petition.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has vehemently contended that from the very inception Balouch Park was being used as park by the residents of the locality and now the said plot is being converted into commercial plot which cannot be used for any other purposes. He has added that the shops were constructed with the connivance of the staff of respondents Nos.2 to 4. He has referred to the judgments reported as Sheri-CBE v. Lahore Development Authority 2006 SCM R 1202, Iqbal Haider v. Capital Development Authority PLD 2006 SC 394, Ardeshir Cowasjee w. Karachi Development Authority 2007 CLC 668 and Sheri v. Province of Sindh 2001 YLR 1139. Learned Additional Advocate-General, Sindh, has submitted, that at present no sufficient funds are available with the Town Municipal so as to improve the condition of the park as directed by the learned High Court, therefore, City Nazim, may be summoned and directed to provide funds to the Town Municipal for undertaking the improvement in the park.

' Manzoor Ahmed, Advocate (Legal Advisor), representing respondents Nos.2 and 3, while referring to the comments furnished by respondent No,3, has submitted that they did not commit any illegality in utilizing the park and that the petition is not maintainable. On Court query, he under instructions from the Officers concerned, present in Court, through written undertaking, committed to implement/execute the impugned order, dated 7-2-2008 and stated that the said park will be maintained as play ground/park and no further construction will be made. The said written undertaking has been placed on record and shall be deemed to be part of today's order, which reads as follows: "Undertaking on behalf of the C.D.G.K. And T.M.A. Saddar ' I, on behalf of C.D.G.K. And T.M.A., Saddar, hereby undertake to implement the order of the Honourable High Court passed in C.P. No,123 of 2007, dated 7-2-2008.

' The I.T. Centre may be maintained as I.T. Centre that the playground/park may also be maintained as playground/park, no any type of further constructions shall be made in the area of the playground/park.

' Shahid Jameel, Advocate (Legal Advisor, K.B.C.A.), adopted the arguments advanced by Mr. Manzoor Ahmed, Advocate, and stated that as the construction of I.T. Centre was made by Public Works Department, therefore, no site plan was made by Public Works Department, therefore, no site plan was submitted before , K.B.C.A. For its approval and sanction.

' Qamar Masoodi, Director (Park), on a Court question stated that as sufficient funds are available, therefore, directions of the learned High Court will be complied with within a period of two months.

5. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and examined the available record, we feel that in the present set of circumstances the learned High Court rightly comprehended the matter and disposed of the petition with certain directions/observations qua maintenance of existing status of the plot and its development. The learned Division Bench has provided sufficient safeguards to the apprehension shown by the petitioner inasmuch as the concerned authorities were restrained from raising any further construction for any other purposes. Learned counsel for respondents Nos.2 and 3 has undertaken before this Court to comply with the directions and observations of the learned High Court in letter and spirit. Additionally, as noted above undertaking has been furnished to this Court today committing to implement the order, to maintain the status of the plot as park and playground and not to make any further construction in the area of Playground Park. We feel that the grievance of the petitioner and for that purpose the other residents of the locality, has sufficiently been redressed and taken care of as the concerned authorities undertook to maintain the status of the park/playground thus, we are not inclined to further process the matter.

Additionally, no case of leave to appeal is made out.

6. In view of the above, the present petition stands disposed of with the observation, for the consumption of all concerned, that they will be bound by the comments and undertakings given before this Court and the observations/directions contained in order, dated 7-2-2008, passed by the High Court of Sindh, Karachi.

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