Karachi authorities remove barricades after SC order

Authorities in Karachi have removed barricades and barriers placed on the road outside the Chief Minister House after the Supreme Court order.

The development comes just a couple of days after the apex court ordered the concerned authorities to remove barriers outside various buildings including Sindh Rangers headquarters, CM House and Governor House.

They were also directed to present the report within three days.

The orders were issued by a three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail.

“No one is allowed to obstruct the free movement of people […] Blocking roads and creating obstacles is illegal,” the top judge said during the hearing.

The chief justice had underscored that the federal and provincial governments themselves are encroaching on the lands and directed the authorities to “clear” the roads.

CJP Isa also said that the expenses related to the removal of encroachments should also be collected from the encroachers. He also issued directives that the authorities should abstain from blocking the roads under the pretext of security.