Karachi Circular Railway (KCR)
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HAIDER
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Happy to see such remarkable development....otherwise KCR was gone forever. Magic of CJ and PTI.
Danish saleem
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All the losses will be charged from Honrable court, which is more interested in running KCR instead of imporving their own justice sytem.
What about the losses of Lahore orange line and metro bus where more than $3 billion has been spent combined? Karachi should continue living in Stone Age?
ghazi52
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'No roads, no water, no parks': CJP censures Sindh CM for slow progress in removing encroachments
Shafi Baloch
29 Dec 2020
Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed on Tuesday berated Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for lack of progress in removing encroachments from land meant for the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and the condition of the metropolis. — APP
Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed on Tuesday berated Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for not acting on court orders to remove encroachments from land meant for the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and for the overall condition of the metropolis, saying there were "no roads, no water, no parks" and the city had been "turned into a village".
Justice Gulzar made these remarks during the hearing of a case regarding removal of illegal encroachments in the metropolis at the Supreme Court's Karachi registry. During the hearing, the chief justice asked Shah for the progress report on removal of encroachments.
The chief minister apologised to the court for not submitting the progress report, saying he would submit a detailed report if he was given two weeks' time. At this, the top judge asked Shah to inform the court verbally of what progress that had been made since the order was passed.
"Work has been done on Shahrah-e-Faisal and it has been widened. [We] have also rebuilt Tariq Road, Shahrah-e-Quaideen and University Road," Shah told the court.
The chief justice remarked that the condition of Shahrah-e-Faisal was not good. "The road is bumpy, there is dust and rubbish and there are no trees."
The court then asked Shah about the progress made on removing illegal encroachments. "When I became the chief minister, I removed the barrier in front of the Chief Minister's House first of all.
"[We] have emptied the footpaths of five-star hotels. I do not want that footpaths be encroached upon," Shah said.
The chief justice showed a newspaper clipping to Shah, observing that it said he had directed the director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority to approve all buildings.
Sindh Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah then informed the court that no "wrong building plan" would be approved and construction would only be allowed where it was legal. At this, the chief justice asked, "Where are empty spaces in the city to construct buildings?"
"Nobody will be allowed to construct illegally. Your orders will be followed," the minister assured the court.
The chief justice said "ground realities show that no work has been done". However, the Sindh CM told the court that "even footpaths have been cleared".
"[The] mayor had the responsibility to get the encroachments removed which he did not do. We had your orders followed through the cabinet's approval. New sewerage lines were laid from Shaheed-i-Millat Road to Tariq Road and University Road was also [re]built," CM Shah added.
"The entire city has been transformed into a village. There are no roads, no water, no parks [and no grounds," the chief justice remarked.
"We are doing plantation and widening the roads. Work has been done on important roads and it is in progress. We will submit the progress report if we are given some time," Shah said.
Mentioning further steps the his government had taken, the provincial chief executive said: "The foundation of Malir Expressway has been laid. After deaths caused by the rains in 2007 and 2010, efforts were made to improve the system to deal with rain."
Talking to the media later, the chief minister said the court had given a month's time to submit the report.
CJP grills commissioner
Before the chief justice summoned CM Shah to appear in person, the court questioned Karachi Commissioner Navid Ahmed Shaikh about progress made on court directives. Responding to the CJP, Shaikh said he had only recently been appointed and therefore was not in a position to answer the court's queries.
"You should have prepared before coming here," the CJP remarked.
"Why are these people sent to appear before us? What do they know about people's needs?" Justice Gulzar asked the commissioner whether he had read the court's order of May 2019 in which directives were given to vacate the land within two weeks.
During the hearing, railways secretary and other officials also appeared in court over the matter of Hyatt Regency Hotel construction on land belonging to the Pakistan Railways.
The secretary informed the court that the rent for the hotel was estimated at Rs46 million. At this, the chief justice remarked that the organisation did not have the authority to estimate rents.
"According to the Supreme Court's ruling, railways land cannot be leased out for longer than five years. Build a head office etc in place of the hotel," Justice Gulzar said.
The CJP then questioned what had become of the Kala Pul park. The secretary informed the court that the boundary walls for the park had been constructed and the assignment was given to National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak).
The chief justice remarked that petrol pumps had been built "all over the railways land". Officials from PR told the court that no such petrol pumps had been constructed since 2010.
The court then turned its attention to the matter of hotels at the airport. It observed that officials of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had assured the court that parks would be built on the airport's empty lands and directed that a progress report be submitted on the same.
Tejori Heights
The lawyer for Pakistan Railways told the court that Tejori Heights — a residential apartment project — had been established on railways land and 40 people had been given flats in it on the basis of "illegal documents".
However, the lawyer for Tejori Heights argued that the land did not belong to PR.
The court ordered the commissioner to take Tejori Heights under its control. "The civil suit in the [Sindh] High Court will continue," it said.
KCR
The railways secretary also submitted a report to the court regarding the KCR.
The chief justice observed that the new Minister for Railways Azam Swati had said that the railways could not function on the old system and questioned why flyovers and underpasses were not built.
"[We] need the court's help for KCR otherwise accidents will happen everyday," the secretary informed the court, adding that getting the lands vacated and walkways cleared was a "big problem". He also requested the court to pass an order for relocation of the people who would be displaced.
"You are the ones who allowed them to [build] there and granted illegal allotment. Why should those who grabbed the land be relocated?" the chief justice said.
The court directed that the Hyatt Regency Hotel land be used for railways and a report be submitted within a month. It ordered "immediate action" to get back railways land and instructed that the help of police of Rangers be taken. It directed the director general of Sindh Rangers and Sindh inspector general of police to extend complete cooperation.
Divisional superintendent of railways told the court that the local train had started functioning. "We have got a very good response. We have given a plan to the Sindh government," he said.
The secretary railways also told the court that 70 per cent of work on the KCR had been completed and it would make a model mass transit programme.
The court directed that KCR be made fully functional within the stipulated time period after which progress would be gauged. If that was not done, action would be carried out against the authorities concerned.
It directed the director general of railways to appear before the court in one month's time along with a progress report.
Shafi Baloch
29 Dec 2020
Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed on Tuesday berated Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for lack of progress in removing encroachments from land meant for the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and the condition of the metropolis. — APP
Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed on Tuesday berated Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for not acting on court orders to remove encroachments from land meant for the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and for the overall condition of the metropolis, saying there were "no roads, no water, no parks" and the city had been "turned into a village".
Justice Gulzar made these remarks during the hearing of a case regarding removal of illegal encroachments in the metropolis at the Supreme Court's Karachi registry. During the hearing, the chief justice asked Shah for the progress report on removal of encroachments.
The chief minister apologised to the court for not submitting the progress report, saying he would submit a detailed report if he was given two weeks' time. At this, the top judge asked Shah to inform the court verbally of what progress that had been made since the order was passed.
"Work has been done on Shahrah-e-Faisal and it has been widened. [We] have also rebuilt Tariq Road, Shahrah-e-Quaideen and University Road," Shah told the court.
The chief justice remarked that the condition of Shahrah-e-Faisal was not good. "The road is bumpy, there is dust and rubbish and there are no trees."
The court then asked Shah about the progress made on removing illegal encroachments. "When I became the chief minister, I removed the barrier in front of the Chief Minister's House first of all.
"[We] have emptied the footpaths of five-star hotels. I do not want that footpaths be encroached upon," Shah said.
The chief justice showed a newspaper clipping to Shah, observing that it said he had directed the director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority to approve all buildings.
Sindh Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah then informed the court that no "wrong building plan" would be approved and construction would only be allowed where it was legal. At this, the chief justice asked, "Where are empty spaces in the city to construct buildings?"
"Nobody will be allowed to construct illegally. Your orders will be followed," the minister assured the court.
The chief justice said "ground realities show that no work has been done". However, the Sindh CM told the court that "even footpaths have been cleared".
"[The] mayor had the responsibility to get the encroachments removed which he did not do. We had your orders followed through the cabinet's approval. New sewerage lines were laid from Shaheed-i-Millat Road to Tariq Road and University Road was also [re]built," CM Shah added.
"The entire city has been transformed into a village. There are no roads, no water, no parks [and no grounds," the chief justice remarked.
"We are doing plantation and widening the roads. Work has been done on important roads and it is in progress. We will submit the progress report if we are given some time," Shah said.
Mentioning further steps the his government had taken, the provincial chief executive said: "The foundation of Malir Expressway has been laid. After deaths caused by the rains in 2007 and 2010, efforts were made to improve the system to deal with rain."
Talking to the media later, the chief minister said the court had given a month's time to submit the report.
CJP grills commissioner
Before the chief justice summoned CM Shah to appear in person, the court questioned Karachi Commissioner Navid Ahmed Shaikh about progress made on court directives. Responding to the CJP, Shaikh said he had only recently been appointed and therefore was not in a position to answer the court's queries.
"You should have prepared before coming here," the CJP remarked.
"Why are these people sent to appear before us? What do they know about people's needs?" Justice Gulzar asked the commissioner whether he had read the court's order of May 2019 in which directives were given to vacate the land within two weeks.
During the hearing, railways secretary and other officials also appeared in court over the matter of Hyatt Regency Hotel construction on land belonging to the Pakistan Railways.
The secretary informed the court that the rent for the hotel was estimated at Rs46 million. At this, the chief justice remarked that the organisation did not have the authority to estimate rents.
"According to the Supreme Court's ruling, railways land cannot be leased out for longer than five years. Build a head office etc in place of the hotel," Justice Gulzar said.
The CJP then questioned what had become of the Kala Pul park. The secretary informed the court that the boundary walls for the park had been constructed and the assignment was given to National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak).
The chief justice remarked that petrol pumps had been built "all over the railways land". Officials from PR told the court that no such petrol pumps had been constructed since 2010.
The court then turned its attention to the matter of hotels at the airport. It observed that officials of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had assured the court that parks would be built on the airport's empty lands and directed that a progress report be submitted on the same.
Tejori Heights
The lawyer for Pakistan Railways told the court that Tejori Heights — a residential apartment project — had been established on railways land and 40 people had been given flats in it on the basis of "illegal documents".
However, the lawyer for Tejori Heights argued that the land did not belong to PR.
The court ordered the commissioner to take Tejori Heights under its control. "The civil suit in the [Sindh] High Court will continue," it said.
KCR
The railways secretary also submitted a report to the court regarding the KCR.
The chief justice observed that the new Minister for Railways Azam Swati had said that the railways could not function on the old system and questioned why flyovers and underpasses were not built.
"[We] need the court's help for KCR otherwise accidents will happen everyday," the secretary informed the court, adding that getting the lands vacated and walkways cleared was a "big problem". He also requested the court to pass an order for relocation of the people who would be displaced.
"You are the ones who allowed them to [build] there and granted illegal allotment. Why should those who grabbed the land be relocated?" the chief justice said.
The court directed that the Hyatt Regency Hotel land be used for railways and a report be submitted within a month. It ordered "immediate action" to get back railways land and instructed that the help of police of Rangers be taken. It directed the director general of Sindh Rangers and Sindh inspector general of police to extend complete cooperation.
Divisional superintendent of railways told the court that the local train had started functioning. "We have got a very good response. We have given a plan to the Sindh government," he said.
The secretary railways also told the court that 70 per cent of work on the KCR had been completed and it would make a model mass transit programme.
The court directed that KCR be made fully functional within the stipulated time period after which progress would be gauged. If that was not done, action would be carried out against the authorities concerned.
It directed the director general of railways to appear before the court in one month's time along with a progress report.
ziaulislam
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Running old KCR is stupid IMO
A new one should be built run through electricity
However the probelm is uu cant build a new one unless u operate the old one due to people land mafia..
Theu have to take the land back first run a dysfunctional KCR and built a new one
ghazi52
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SC asks Rangers, police chiefs to help railways retrieve encroached land
Ishaq Tanoli
30 Dec 2020
KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the director general of Pakistan Rangers Sindh and the provincial police officer to provide assistance to Pakistan Railways to retrieve its land from encroachers.
The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed was hearing various cases at the Supreme Court’s Karachi registry. The other members of the bench were Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Qazi Mohammad Amin Ahmed.
The railways secretary and a divisional superintendent informed the bench that work on ML-I would be started soon and for that purpose they required land which was encroached upon.
They further submitted that whenever the railways launched an anti-encroachment operation, it was strongly resisted by the encroachers, and some personnel of the railway police also sustained injuries.
The railways officials further contended that 70 per cent work on the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) had been completed and it would be made completely functional as soon as possible.
A representative of the provincial government informed the bench that work order had been issued to the Frontier Works Organisation to build underpasses and flyovers on the KCR route.
The bench noted that its timeline for the KCR revival had not been met by the railways and the provincial government, and directed them to ensure that the same be completed without any further delay otherwise action would be taken against them.
Tejori Heights
The bench ordered the immediate suspension of work on an under-construction building, Tejori Heights, in Gulshan-i-Iqbal near the abandoned Gilani railway station on the KCR and barred it from creating a third-party interest.
After hearing both sides, the bench while dictating an interim order, said that on the basis of documents, prima facie there was no right of Tejori Heights on the land in question and directed the commissioner of Karachi to take over the construction site till further order.
The lawyer for Pakistan Railways contended that the land belonged to the railways and an illegal construction was being made on the basis of forged documents. He maintained that a nazir of the Sindh High Court in his report also confirmed that the land belonged to railways.
Senior lawyer Mian Raza Rabbani was representing Tejori Heights and argued that they had filed objections on the nazir report and the matter was being heard by the SHC. He contended that his client had purchased the land and also had all the documents.
The chief justice expressed displeasure when Mr Rabbani insisted on arguing the matter further.
Ishaq Tanoli
30 Dec 2020
KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the director general of Pakistan Rangers Sindh and the provincial police officer to provide assistance to Pakistan Railways to retrieve its land from encroachers.
The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed was hearing various cases at the Supreme Court’s Karachi registry. The other members of the bench were Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Qazi Mohammad Amin Ahmed.
The railways secretary and a divisional superintendent informed the bench that work on ML-I would be started soon and for that purpose they required land which was encroached upon.
They further submitted that whenever the railways launched an anti-encroachment operation, it was strongly resisted by the encroachers, and some personnel of the railway police also sustained injuries.
The bench directed them to take all measures to clear railway lines and its encroached land with the help of Rangers and police personnel.
The railways officials further contended that 70 per cent work on the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) had been completed and it would be made completely functional as soon as possible.
A representative of the provincial government informed the bench that work order had been issued to the Frontier Works Organisation to build underpasses and flyovers on the KCR route.
The bench noted that its timeline for the KCR revival had not been met by the railways and the provincial government, and directed them to ensure that the same be completed without any further delay otherwise action would be taken against them.
Tejori Heights
The bench ordered the immediate suspension of work on an under-construction building, Tejori Heights, in Gulshan-i-Iqbal near the abandoned Gilani railway station on the KCR and barred it from creating a third-party interest.
After hearing both sides, the bench while dictating an interim order, said that on the basis of documents, prima facie there was no right of Tejori Heights on the land in question and directed the commissioner of Karachi to take over the construction site till further order.
The lawyer for Pakistan Railways contended that the land belonged to the railways and an illegal construction was being made on the basis of forged documents. He maintained that a nazir of the Sindh High Court in his report also confirmed that the land belonged to railways.
Senior lawyer Mian Raza Rabbani was representing Tejori Heights and argued that they had filed objections on the nazir report and the matter was being heard by the SHC. He contended that his client had purchased the land and also had all the documents.
The chief justice expressed displeasure when Mr Rabbani insisted on arguing the matter further.
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