Daily Times

KARACHI: Supreme Court has ordered immediate removal of all kinds of billboards on footpaths and roadsides of the city within a month, terming them a threat to human life.

A three-member bench ordered Additional Attorney General Salman Talibuddin to summon representatives of institutions responsible, which included Cantonment, Civil Aviation Authority, KMC and DMC. The court has also sought a report from additional attorney general in a month. Justice Khilji Arif questioned who installed the billboards on both sides of Karsaz and Drigh Road, adding that the situation is beyond understanding that federation agencies are sending notices to each other, why such situation arose that the institutions are sending notices to each other.

Justice Ameer Hani Muslim expressed anger over illegal billboards, declaring them a threat, and ordered to immediately remove from roads. Meanwhile, Sindh High Court has directed authorities for removal of encroachments and occupation of forestland. The forestland used by aerial seeding for reforestation and GIS mapping in the province, so that it could be saved and to develop better climate to protect the environment. Forest Department has failed to comply with SHC orders to end illegal occupation of 134,560 acres of forestland in Sindh. Another petition was filed against Forest Department and others to remove illegal encroachments as well cancellation of lease in Larkana, Shikarpur and others districts.

According to petitioner Muhammad Umar, a resident of village Garhi Qaisar Khan taluka Garhi Yasin, Shikarpur District, who filed a constitutional petition in Sindh High Court at Circuit Court Larkana and seeking the implementation of previous Court orders passed by Sindh High Court in the light of petition filed by Indus Development Organisation and another filed by United Human Rights Commission of Pakistan regarding the issue of forestland.

In this regard, two divisional benches had given directives to all districts and sessions judges in Sindh to constitute public vigilance committees in their respective districts for the monitoring of forest cover, in case of any violation action be taken and submission of monthly basis reports. The petitioner stated that Chief Conservator Forest Department Sindh had submitted in court that Forest Department had leased out a total of 82,500 acres of land and the lease would expire by December 2015 and December 2018, adding that leasing was required to grow trees over the 20 to 80 percent, but unfortunately 80 percent leases failed, besides chief conservator said that 134,560 acres of forest land is under the encroachment.

The court issued directions to adopt the effective and forceful measures with support of Rangers, police and district management for removal of encroachment and cancellation of leases. The petitioner submitted that forestland starts from Bhaman Plot Larkana district towards forest areas of Dirgpur Shikarpur District is in illegal occupation of local sardars, chieftains and they are cultivating the land, earning millions and using it to harbor dacoits and criminals. The officials of forest department instead of taking action against them, are playing the role of facilitators.