The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) during hearing of the Karachi law and order suo moto judgment implementation case Wednesday ordered to complete the survey of government lands in three months by employing latest technology.
A five-judge larger bench headed by Anwar Zaher Jamali was hearing the case at SC’s Karachi Registry Wednesday.
Many high-ranking officials including Chief Secretary Sindh Raja Ghulam Abbas, Advocate General Sindh Abdul Fatah Malik, Additional Chief Secretary Interior Waseem Ahmed and Inspector General (IG) Sindh Police Mushtaq Shah were present in the hearing.
During the proceedings, Justice Anwar Jamali remarked that the government does not need any court order to conduct the land survey, in fact, it is the duty of the government to safeguard its lands. He said land survey was the Sindh government’s responsibility, adding that, a court order should not have been necessary for it.
Last year, the Supreme Court had given its detailed order in the case after the chief justice had taken suo motu action on the security situation in the city.
During the proceedings, the provincial chief secretary said that the Sindh government had sanctioned a land survey from Gadap to Jamshoro.
Responding to which, Justice Muslim said that all land from Gadap to Jamshoro was in fact government property.
Moreover, officials from the revenue department said that a year’s time was needed to conduct a survey of government land and requested the court to grant them the said time.
Approving the measure to conduct the survey from Gadap to Jamshoro, the bench said three months were sufficient for the work’s completion.
Justice Jamali moreover remarked that revenue officials deliberately had the land record burnt.
The bench further stated that the land record was available with the central office, adding that, it could be made use of.
Advocate-General Sindh Abdul Fateh Malik stated that the chief secretary had gotten Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah to approve the summary for the survey. The hearing was subsequently adjourned until Thursday.