The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday, directed again to remove all the billboards from footpaths across the city. SC has also instructed to present the report on the implementation of the order.
A two-member bench which comprises of Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, received the case at the Court’s Karachi registry.
Amid the hearing, officers of the federal, provincial as well as local powers appeared and filed their reports, as asked by the court earlier.
The Rangers officials and the Coast Guards rejected and clarified that they had not given anyone any kind of permission to place advertisement boards on the region they maintained. The court was given wrong information.
The representatives of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) informed the court that they had permitted billboards just on greenbelts. But the bench inquired how the boards were applied on footpaths if the KMC had not done that.
It looks like authorities have now driven their attention towards money making, the bench maintained. They don’t care about the people who become a victim of such boards whenever a natural disaster hits.
Overlooking the report, the court asked the official representing the police department about the law under which police stations have been providing places for billboards.
The police officer told that the money gained through the billboards was utilized in the police development fund but, following the court’s direction, all such boards were removed.
The bench also expressed annoyance and maintained that the police also may initiate building plazas and starting businesses firm if that was their aim.
Concluding the session, the bench directed that all billboards on footpaths should be taken off in a week.
SC DIRECTS GOVERNMENT TO APPOINT CHAIRMAN PEMRA IN 30 DAYS
On Aug 19 (APP): The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the government to appoint Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in 30 days and also asked the Islamabad High Court to decide the matter pending before it urgently.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Jawad S Khawaja comprising Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Qazi Faez Isa heard the case and issued directions to the government regarding appointment of Chairman PEMRA.