Fence around Karachi's Frere Hall part of beautification exercise, SHC told.

KARACHI -- A lawyer representing the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation on Wednesday informed the Sindh High Court that the concrete structure being built around Frere Hall Gardens was part of a beautification exercise.

On June 20, a single bench of SHC had ordered immediate demolition of concrete structures being erected at the iconic building on a lawsuit filed by architect Marvi Mazhar, issued a show-cause notice to the administrator and also suspended through an interim order his intrusion in any heritage building or site.

The KMC and Karachi administrator filed an appeal against the interim order of the single-judge bench before the division bench headed by Justice Mohammad Junaid Ghaffar.

Representing the appellants, Advocate Umer Lakhani argued that through the impugned order the single-judge bench had passed a mandatory injunction without notice for demolition of the concrete structure, which was part of some beautification exercise being carried out by the KMC.

He submitted that as per settled law the injunction could have only been done after due notice.

He submitted that an arch was being raised by the KMC for the purpose of beautification, whereas not only an order for demolition has been passed ex-parte, but also a show-cause notice to the administrator with a further restraining order against him in regarding all heritage sites/buildings in Karachi

The counsel further submitted that since the administrator had not violated any court order, hence no occasion had arisen to show cause him.

He argued that the relief granted in the impugned order was never pleaded by the plaintiff in the lawsuit and now contempt proceedings had been initiated and hence, urgency and this high court appeal...