KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Friday ordered the authorities concerned to take down all advertisement billboards across the metropolis and present a report within three days. A five-member bench headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim heard the case at Supreme Court’s Karachi registry. During the case proceeding, the apex court rejected all the reports regarding removal of billboards and signboards. Justice Amir Hani Muslim remarked that billboards could still be seen in various parts of the metropolis. It is not only the issue of Shahra-e-Faisal but the entire city, he said. The court also reprimanded administrator of South and asked that under which law these signboards were permitted to be installed. Meanwhile, the apex court directed the authorities concerned to remove all the billboards/hoardings within three days and present a report in this regard. The authorities will be indicted in the next hearing if they failed to do so, the bench announced. The Supreme Court Karachi registry has also rejected the report submitted by administration about illegal billboards and issued the deadline of three days to remove all illegal billboards from the metropolis. During the hearing, additional attorney general, DMCs and cantonment boards while submitting the report informed the court that about 98 percent billboards have been removed from the city. Justice Amir Hani Muslim observed that billboards are still installed in the city and termed the submitted report wrong on the occasion. He said there are a lot of billboards from Faisal Highway to Kala Pul Bridge adding that the court has pictures of these bill boards. The administrator informed the court that this area comes in the jurisdiction of cantonment board and the local administration cannot interfere in the affairs of cantonment. The court responded the administrator that all are holding responsible to each other. Are cantonment authorities higher than the court, the bench questioned. Justice Amir Hani Muslim inquired the name of chief executive officer (CEO) of cantonment board and directed to summon him in the court. On this, the prosecutor told the apex court that he had gone abroad for any business. Justice Amir Hani Muslim had expressed his anger over it and said that if billboards were not removed from the city then show cause notices would be issued and indicted to all officials concerned including all DMCs and administrator of cantonment boards. Justice Amir Hani Muslim said, “It is all due to the negligence of authorities concerned and it is not the issue of Faisal Highway but the entire city.” The tax director informed the court that all the billboards have been removed except in cantonment areas. He said the remaining billboards would be removed if apex court orders. On this, Justice Amir Hani Muslim said that the deadline of three days have been given for removing the billboards. Such billboards should be installed which educate the people and ordered the authorities concerned to submit a report within three days, he said. Billboards Association former president Mashood Merchant was of the view that order of the apex court is being implemented completely. He said that approximately 13,000 to 14,000 billboards were installed in Karachi ourt of which 10 percent were over their fixed size, but these billboards were of influential people which are non-member of association. Meanwhile, the Billboards Association has demanded of the court to take action not only against illegal billboards but the departments concerned as well. The apex court adjourned the hearing while giving deadline of three days to all the parties.