Supreme Court orders removal of Karachi administrator Murtaza Wahab

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 05 Jan 2023

The Supreme Court has, in a drastic turn of events, ordered the removal of Murtaza Wahab from the post of Karachi administrator. An angry Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed said that the leader has terribly failed the people of the city.

The top court resumed hearing the Gutter Baghicha case at its Karachi Registry Monday morning. During the proceedings, Wahab and the top judge had a heated exchange.

The apex court came down on the PPP leader for not fulfilling his responsibilities. “Your behavior is that of a politician, not someone who works for the people of the city,” Justice Ahmed pointed out.

He has instructed Chief Minister to appoint an “impartial and competent” person in place of Wahab.

Gutter Bagicha case

The case of Karachi’s most attacked park started in 1993. Shehri, an NGO, says that the KMC Officers Cooperative Housing Society (KMC OCHS) illegally secured 200 acres for itself. Shehri took this to court and filed a human rights case. Its legal case was made by referring to Article 184(3) of the Constitution in the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the conversion of Gutter Baghicha amenity land to industrial, residential and commercial use.

Shehri feared that turning Gutter Baghicha into plots would destroy the environment. Five other NGOs joined Shehri in the effort to save Gutter Baghicha.

The case in the Supreme Court was disposed of in 2003. The city district government of Karachi (CDGK) promised to reach an understanding with citizens and NGOs. The SC directed the CDGK to report back on how it had followed these orders after three months.

However, more parts of Gutter Baghicha disappeared in the following two years as people surreptitiously took over its green space.

In 2005, Shehri filed a contempt of court case against the CDGK. And then, three years later, again, in 2008, Shehri filed a fresh case against the CDGK, the Karachi Building Control Authority, the Sindh government and others.

Shehri kept filing contempt petitions over the years but a major development came only in 2018 when the 200 acres illegally given to KMC OCHS were cancelled.

In March 2020, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation announced that it had retrieved 362 acres of government land from grabbers. The statement, ironically, claimed that the land belonged to the KMC Officers Society and City Park located near Gutter Bagicha in Old Golimar in District West.

Last month, a three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed ordered the Karachi administrator to restore Gutter Baghicha to its original shape.

People who fought for the restoration of the Gutter Baghicha to its original position included Nisar Baloch, who was gunned down in November 2009 for his activism.

Another name is that of Ardeshir Cowasjee, who was a columnist, social activist, and philanthropist.

The Sindh High Court has adjourned the hearing of the Gutter Baghicha case until December 13.