Karachi authorities remove barricades outside CM House after SC order

• SC orders authorities to removed barriers outside buildings. 
• 3-member bench, led by CJP Isa, issued orders this week.
• SC also sought a report of development within 3 days.

KARACHI: Following the orders issued by the Supreme Court, the authorities in Karachi removed barriers placed on the road outside the Chief Minister House, Geo News reported Saturday.

The development comes after the SC, on Thursday, directed the authorities concerned to remove barriers outside various buildings including Sindh Rangers headquarters, CM House and Governor House and present the report within three days. 

A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail issued the order during the hearing of multiple cases.

"No one is allowed to obstruct the free movement of people [...] Blocking roads and creating obstacles is illegal," the top judge said during the hearing.

The chief justice had underscored that the federal and provincial governments themselves are encroaching on the lands and directed the authorities to "clear" the roads.

CJP Isa also said that the expenses related to the removal of encroachments should also be collected from the encroachers. He also issued directives that the authorities should abstain from blocking the roads under the pretext of security.

"Why don't you remove encroachments in front of [Sindh] Rangers headquarters?" the CJP said, questioning the law under which Jinnah Court premises were handed over to the Rangers.

"Place the [security] containers inside the Governor House. Why do you put it outside?" the top judge said while stressing that encroachments should be removed even if they are within the premises of the SC itself.