Karachi (HRNW): A petition has been filed in the Sindh High Court by the Jamaat-e-Islami Opposition Leader in the City Council and others against the decision to hand over Clifton’s Beach View Park to a private institution.
Privatization Through Public-Private Partnership
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, Usman Farooq Advocate, informed the court that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) City Council had approved the establishment of a museum on the land of Beach View Park in March. According to the petitioners, the construction of this museum is intended to be carried out under a Public-Private Partnership framework.
Violation of Supreme Court Rulings and Master Plan
The petitioners have raised serious legal objections to the project, asserting the following:
-
Contravention of Apex Court Judgments: Allocating public park land for private use directly contradicts established rulings of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
-
Violation of Fundamental Rights: Constructing a museum or carrying out any commercial development on park land constitutes a direct infringement on the fundamental rights of the public.
-
Protected Status: Beach View Park is fully protected under the city’s master plan, which prohibits altering its status as an open public amenity space.
Illegal Council Proceedings Alleged
The petition further claims that the resolution was passed in the City Council through illegal and unconstitutional means. The petitioners stated that the council members were not even provided with the session’s agenda prior to the meeting, rendering the approval a blatant abuse of legislative authority.
Plea to the Court
The petitioners have prayed the Sindh High Court to declare the City Council’s resolution null and void, as it exceeds its legal authority. They have requested the court to issue an immediate stay order restraining any private entity from taking over Beach View Park and halting all forms of construction on the land.
Support Our Mission:
Join HRNW, the world’s No. 1 Human Rights News Portal, in our mission to be a timely voice for human rights and public issues. Your support enables us to continue promoting the truth and speaking up for the oppressed.
Click here to help us: HRNW Support Link
