KARACHI – A three member bench of Supreme Court at its Karachi Registry ordered removal of oil tankers parked in Shirin Jinnah Colony, Clifton, very close to sea side, within 15 days time.
The bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar
with Justices Sajjad Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar as its other two
members took into account on Wednesday that the oil tankers were not only a cause of serious health risk but also constantly exposed the residents of the area to untoward incident due to specific nature of the inflammable item carried via heavy vehicles.
They were also registered to be also a threat for marine life as
vehicles washed with sea water led to discharge of hazardous chemical residue into sea water at grave cost of nature.
Seeking removal of the unauthorized terminus from the residential
area, the bench in its order took strong exception to the fact that
the oil tankers’ owners and drivers, despite repeated directives of
the Karachi administration did not move their tankers to a site
already reserved for the purpose.
Reservations were also expressed with regard to inability of the
administration to be assertive enough in ensuring implementation of
its orders.
Meanwhile, the same bench hearing another case sought open
auction for leasing out state land in so as to ensure transparency in
the process of land allotment.
During the almost day long exercise the bench also directed the
provincial government authorities to ensure immediate payment of
salaries to the employees of Sindh Small Industries Corporation (SSIC) and clearance of dues of its retired employees without any further delay.
