In a significant development, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a contempt notice to the outgoing Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in the Gujjar Nala implementation case. The notice was delivered on Wednesday by a two-member bench, comprising Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, during the proceedings held at the Karachi Registry.
The petition, which sought action against the outgoing Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for non-compliance with a court decision, was heard by the bench. The case revolves around the failure to implement a previous court ruling, and the petitioner emphasized the need for Mr. Shah’s arrest due to his alleged disregard for court orders.
The Supreme Court also summoned key officials to appear before the court on Thursday (tomorrow). Among those called to attend the hearing are Sindh Chief Secretary Dr. Mohamad Suhail Rajput, Commissioner Karachi Mohammad Iqbal, and Hassan Akbar, the Advocate General for Sindh.
Background of the Case:
The roots of the case trace back to 2021 when the Supreme Court issued a written order in an anti-encroachment case related to Gujjar and Orangi Nullahs. The directive called for compensating the affected individuals of these areas. The then Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, presiding over the apex court bench, ordered the authorities to continue the expansion work of Gujjar and Orangi nalas, despite stay orders issued by tribunals and the Sindh High Court.
In its order, the court directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Sindh government to proceed with their work and provide compensation to the affected parties as per the law. Notably, during the court hearing, residents impacted by the Gujjar and Orangi Nala projects staged a demonstration outside the Registry, seeking justice for their concerns.
The contempt notice against the outgoing Chief Minister signals a crucial step in addressing the alleged non-compliance with court decisions, and the subsequent hearing tomorrow is anticipated to shed further light on the matter.
