Court seeks details of parking outside Frere Hall gardens

KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought a report regarding the awarding of parking contracts at the historic Frere Hall gardens.

The court was hearing a contempt of court case filed by architect Marvi Mazhar regarding the construction of structures at the site by the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC).

The court sought details regarding the parking contract in Frere Hall and sought a reply from Assistant Commissioner South.

The court issued a contempt notice to DG Parks Junaidullah and asked him to submit a reply by June 27.

The petitioner’s counsel told the court that illegal parking fees are being charged from ordinary citizens visiting the parks outside the historic building.

On June 20, a single bench of SHC had ordered immediate demolition of concrete structures being erected at the iconic building on a lawsuit filed by architect Marvi Mazhar.

The court had also issued a show-cause notice to the Karachi Administrator over his intrusion in any heritage building or site.

The KMC and Karachi administrator filed an appeal against the interim order of the single-judge bench before the division bench headed by Justice Mohammad Junaid Ghaffar.

A day earlier on Wednesday, the Sindh High Court’s appellate bench suspended the order to demolish concrete structures being erected around the Frere Hall’s garden.

READ MORE: Court orders demolition of gates at Frere Hall gardens

A lawyer representing the KMC informed the Sindh High Court that the concrete structure was part of a beautification exercise. He said the bench had passed a mandatory injunction without notice for the demolition of the concrete structure.

The counsel said the Karachi administrator had not violated any court order and should be issued the show cause notice.

After the preliminary hearing of the appeal, the division bench issued notices to the provincial government, heritage department, and others for July 15.

The court directed the KMC to maintain the status quo over the constructions being carried out, while no further demolition will be carried out. The court also suspended the impugned show-cause notice against the city administrator.

Plaintiff Marvi Mazhar had challenged the construction work at the Frere Hall, terming it in violation of the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Prevention) Act 1994. She had requested the court to declare the construction work illegal and in violation of the heritage laws.

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