The Sindh High Court (SHC) has summoned Karachi’s Mayor, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, to appear in person regarding a 14-year-old legal dispute involving ground rent notices issued to industries by the defunct City District Government Karachi (CDGK).
During a hearing on Tuesday, the court expressed concern over the prolonged delay in resolving the matter, attributing it to the lack of interest shown by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). The court noted that despite previous directives, no senior KMC officials had appeared to assist in the case. Consequently, the SHC issued a notice to Mayor Wahab, instructing him to appear before the court on the next hearing date and ensure the presence of a responsible officer conversant with the facts of the case to assist the court. citeturn0search1
The dispute centers on notices issued to 37 industries in the Landhi and Korangi industrial areas, demanding payment of ground rent or facing potential sealing of their premises. The affected parties argue that the notices were issued without adhering to the proper legal procedures and have challenged their validity in the SHC. citeturn0search1
The SHC has continued interim orders in the case while awaiting the mayor’s appearance and the provision of relevant information by KMC officials. The court’s intervention underscores the need for timely and transparent resolution of long-standing legal matters affecting Karachi’s industrial sector.
