ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court, has ordered the immediate removal of marquee and temporary offices at the Hindu Gymkhana in Karachi.
According to details, the case of transfer of NAPA from Hindu Gymkhana was heard in the Karachi Registry of the Supreme Court chaired by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed. The apex court ruled that there was no room for marquees and offices in the historic Hindu Gymkhana.
The apex court berated Commissioner Karachi Iqbal Memon over the mushrooming of housing buildings on the heritage sites and razing of old buildings. He asked who was destroying heritage sites that should be protected and developing new buildings.
The top judge said heritage sites are being preserved around the world but in Karachi they are being demolished to build commercial structures. He said the area near the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam is considered a heritage site but the old buildings are being razed and new structures are being built.
The apex court ordered the immediate removal of the marquee and temporary offices set up within the heritage site. Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed directed Commissioner Karachi to fix a new site for NAPA and said that fresh photographs and complete details of the building should be provided.
READ MORE: Modern equipment should be used to demolish Nasla Tower: SC
The court directed NAPA’s lawyer to visit the site and inspect it, adding to that the provincial government was ordered to provide space at a prime location.
Earlier Supreme Court issued a written verdict in the Nasla Tower case directing that modern equipment should be used to demolish the building. He further added Nasla Tower demolition should be completed in 7 days after October 27. The demolition of the residential building was ordered on the ground that it was illegal.
