Karachi mayor calls handover of Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim unconstitutional, illegal

KARACHI: The handover of Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim by the Sindh government was an unconstitutional and illegal move, the city mayor said on Monday.  

While talking to the media outside Sindh High Court, Mayor Waseem Akhtar said the park falls under the jurisdiction of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, but it was not taken on board. Moreover, he added, the park belongs to the public, but even they were not called out through a notice in newspapers.  

"Such steps cannot be taken without fulfilment of formalities."  

The city mayor was at the court to file a case regarding the handover of Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim to the Bahria Town administration.

"We have filed a petition and the matter has become sub judice now," he said. "A request has been made to cancel the [handover] notification issued by the local government secretary."

Akhtar criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party government for leaving the park to fall into pieces, saying when Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim was given to the Sindh government it was lush green, but it was deliberately left to go in a rundown state.

"The PPP government gave the park's maintenance contract to a party member, with funds, but he did not spend a penny," Akhtar said. "It was pre-planned so that someone could intervene to improve its condition."

If the Bahria Town administration wants to improve the condition of Karachi, they should construct a park in Sohrab Goth which one of the main entry points of the city, but is ridden by encroachment and its roads are always clogged.  

The mayor had announced his decision to take the issue to the court on Friday. 

Waseem had said he did not have objection over the beautification plan for Karachi. "[But] other parks should, which the government cannot handle, should also be adopted."   

The announcement of giving Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim to the Bahria Town administration has recently been made by the Sindh government. But it caused an uproar in the Sindh Assembly where lawmakers decried the move, suspecting the park would be turned into a commercial spot.

However, responding to the criticism, Bahria Town Chairperson Malik Riaz told Geo News he will not take control of Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim until all the stakeholders were onboard.

Riaz had said he will make sure the park is not used for commercial purposes, once it is under his control. "No entry fees will be charged."