KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the Sindh government, the Karachi mayor, and other relevant authorities in a petition seeking strict enforcement of the law against defacement of public property. The court directed the respondents to submit their replies by February 10.
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The petition was filed by Advocate Tariq Mansoor, who drew the court’s attention to the increasing defacement of government buildings, parks, playgrounds, roads, and utility service poles. He said the problem had worsened in recent years through wall chalking, posters, banners, hoardings, and advertisements.
The petitioner cited the chief secretary, local government secretary, Karachi mayor and commissioner, inspector general of police, and prosecutor general as respondents. He argued that the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act (PDPA) was enacted in 2013 but had yet to be implemented in its true spirit.
A two-judge constitutional bench headed by Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry also put the advocate general on notice. The bench was requested to order the formation of a task force and framing of rules as mandated under the PDPA.
Advocate Mansoor submitted that the law required the establishment of an anti-property defacement task force, which had not been constituted even after nearly 12 years. As a result, he said, defacement of public and private property continued unchecked across the city.
He further argued that the issue was linked not only to the right to life under Article 9 of the Constitution but also to several other constitutional provisions. He maintained that defacement negatively affected public spaces, urban aesthetics, and citizens’ quality of life.
The petitioner pointed out that the law prohibits defacement of any property with the intent to attract public attention and provides for punitive action, including imprisonment, for violations. He added that the act also required the preparation of a comprehensive anti-defacement programme and the removal of existing defacement.
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He requested the court to direct the authorities to enforce the law without exception, constitute the task force, and frame rules under the act within 30 days.