KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has asked Karachi Development Authority to stop its ongoing action at Nasir Jump area in Korangi and sought record from the KDA and revenue board of the houses which the Authority began bulldozing.

Hearing a case regarding houses being bulldozed in Korangi’s Nasir Jump area, at SC’s Karachi registry, the CJP remarked that justice would be done to those who legally own property in that area and their houses would be protected.

According to the petitioners, KDA had decided to bulldoze their houses as the authority was of the view that the structures were built on plots, occupied illegally through ‘china cutting’ that is a terminology use for the plots of parks or land earmarked for public amenities but sliced for housing structures. The petitioners said they were also served notices. They asked why they were allotted the land if it was sliced through china-cutting. The chief justice stopped KDA from further action and sought record from the authority and revenue board.

The drive against alleged illegal structure has been going on in Karachi for a long time, with the authority concerned razing down houses that were said to be built on amenity plots. A number of marriage halls have also been demolished during similar drives in various areas of the city.—INP