The Sindh Government was ordered to restore the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) by the Supreme Court. SC directed this restoration to take place within a month once encroachment upon the track is cleared.
The bench hearing the case pertaining to the revival of the local train and tram service in the SC’s Karachi registry was headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed. He directed the Pakistan Railways (PR), Secretary Farrukh Habib, to clear encroachments on the KCR tracks within 15 days. He further told the authorities to take steps to restore the tram service and also take Pakistani engineers on board who are working in other countries.
“Why the PR had not implemented the top court’s order regarding clearing encroachments on the KCR track that was issued in November last year,” asked Justice Ahmed. He further said that PR can take assistance from Karachi’s mayor and other authorities to clear the encroachments from the track. He also said, “If railway authorities face resistance during the anti-encroachment drive, they should ask the army and Rangers for help.”
The bench was told by the PR secretary that the department has already cleared 10 acres of land, which he assured will be transferred to the Sindh government.
Justice Ahmed also directed the center, provincial government and city authorities to provide alternate land to people who would be affected by the removal of encroachments.
The hearing was adjourned for an indefinite period.