KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday first ordered removal of Administrator Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Barrister Murtaza Wahab from his office for making inappropriate remarks about the judiciary while assisting an apex court bench in a matter relating to illegal use of Gutter Baghicha (GB) land and then recalled its order after he apologised.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed was hearing the matter at Karachi registry of apex court.
The bench wanted to know from Wahab as to how 200 acres state land of total 1,016 land of GB meant for amenity was allotted to KMC Officers Cooperative Housing Society. However, he kept mentioning a report of 2008 giving breakup of 1,016 acres land that was divided into different sizes to be used for different purposes.
At this Justice Qazi Amin directed him not to talk out of context. Murtaza, however, stated that KMC planning for plantation at 168 acres land reserved for the national park during the regime of General Parvaiz Musharraf.
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Amber Ali Bhai of NGO Sheri at this stated that out of the 168 acres land meant for the national park 50 acres has been encroached and purportedly kachi abadies have been established there. The government allows and ignores such settlements for gerrymandering, stated Bhai.
Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin on this observed that the state land is committed to rulers as a trust that should not be used for developing political constituency.
This apparently perturbed Wahab who then burst into a diatribe saying that sweeping statements are given from courts about the government.
“Does court want us to leave the government and go home. If it does so, we are ready to leave the government and go home,” shouted Wahab.
Justice Gulzar Ahmed giving him a shut-up call ordered him to be off from the rostrum and leave the court observing that it would pass order for his removal.
اپنے شھر اپنے صوبے اور اپنے ملک کی خدمت کرنا میرا فرض ہے میرے لۓ اعزاز ہے، اور یہ فرض میں بخوبی نبھاتا رہونگا ۔ https://t.co/cN0fJSaFa0
— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) December 27, 2021
Justice Gulzar Ahmed then dictated a lengthy order mentioning that Wahab time and again has been warned against making political statements in the court but it appeared the making such statement has become part of his character.
“It appears that administrator could not disconnect himself to the political party he belongs to. He keeps making political statements which do not allow him to conduct his functional as an administrator in a neutral manner,” the CJP observed.
Holding that he is not a fit person to remain administrator the CJP directed chief minister Sindh to remove him as administrator and in his place appoint a proper person.
Realising that he had gone too far, soon after passing of order, Wahab, who had not left the rostrum, sought apology from the court and gave an undertaking that he would not make a political statement in the court in the future.
The AG Sindh also tried to convince the court to accept Wahab’s apology, however, the bench left the matter as it is and rose for a break.
After the court break when the bench assembled again, AG Sindh Salman Talibuddin submitted that Wahab is young and honest man who is trying his best to serve people and deserved to pardoned by the court. Amber Ali Bhai also requested the bench to accept Wahab’s apology who according to her deserves a second chance being a better person in current lot of people.
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The CJP held that in light of remorse expressed by Wahab over his conduct in the court, his apology is being accepted with the direction that he would conduct his official duties without political interference and serve people without being influenced by political considerations.
Holding that the purpose of administrator office is to serve people and not any political party leader, the CJP recalled his earlier order whereby the CM was directed to remove Wahab from the office of Administrator KMC.
On the request of Chairman KMC Officers Cooperative Housing society for allowing him time to engage a lawyer, further hearing in the matter deferred for Tuesday.
KMC ordered to take back control of Askari Park
The Supreme Court also ordered KMC to resume control of the land of Askari Park at University Road from the military authorities and remove a marriage hall and 88 shops established there and develop there a proper public park with all the necessary facilities.
The order was passed on an application filed by a human rights activist who challenged an agreement signed between engineering wing of corps five and the KMC for the park’s adoption stating that commercial activities were going on public space.
Counsel for corps five of the Pakistan Army, Chaudhry Iqbal, filed a statement of Lieutenant Colonel Zubair submitting that military establishment has nothing to do with the shops and has no objection over KMC taking back the park and its land.
