Karachi: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) has ordered the authorities to remove the barricades outside various buildings, including Sindh Rangers Headquarters, Chief Minister House, and Governor House, and submit a report within three days.<\/p>\n
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa said on Thursday that “no one is allowed to obstruct the free movement of people. \u201cBlocking roads and erecting barriers is illegal\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Chief Justice Isa’s remarks came when he was heading a three-member bench comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail during the hearing of several cases related to encroachment and Nasla Tower at the Supreme Court Karachi Registry.<\/p>\n
The Chief Justice emphasized that the federal and provincial governments were encroaching on the lands themselves and directed the authorities to “clear” the roads.<\/p>\n
The court has ordered the Attorney General to inform the federal government and directed the authorities to send a copy of the court order to all the concerned institutions, including the security agencies.<\/p>\n
The CJP said that the expenses related to the removal of encroachments should also be recovered from the encroachments.<\/p>\n
Responding to the argument that the barriers are erected due to security concerns, the top judge said, “People keep getting attacked, but\u00a0 you stay safe? What kind of law is that?”<\/p>\n
“If you feel very scared, go and sit in a remote area,” he added, instructing authorities to refrain from blocking roads on the pretext of security.<\/p>\n