National ( The cow news digital ) The Sindh High Court has issued a stay order restraining the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) from carrying out the demolition of the Lyari vegetable market, following a petition filed by the affected shopkeepers.
During the hearing before the constitutional bench, the court directed that no shopkeeper should be evicted and no demolition activity should take place until alternative arrangements are provided. The court also issued notices to KMC and other concerned authorities, seeking their response on the matter.
The petitioners argued that the Lyari vegetable market has been operating for nearly 74 years, serving as a long-established commercial hub for hundreds of traders and their families. Their counsel, Advocate Tariq Siddiqui, informed the court that sudden attempts to remove the market would directly threaten the livelihoods of a large number of shopkeepers who depend on it for income.
He further contended that although KMC had issued notices for the demolition of the market, it had failed to provide any viable alternative location for relocation. The lawyer also alleged that despite assurances of providing an alternative site, the civic body had continued to collect challan fees from the traders.
According to the petition, the shopkeepers expressed willingness to vacate the premises if they are properly relocated to an alternative site. However, they maintained that eviction without rehabilitation would result in significant financial hardship and unemployment for hundreds of families.
The court, after a preliminary hearing, granted a stay order halting any action against the market until further proceedings. It also emphasized that the rights of the shopkeepers must be considered and that due process must be followed before any demolition or eviction is carried out.
Read more
- US Envoy Backs Israel’s Claim to Wider Middle East
- Trump Hopes Iran Talks Succeed, Warns Against Midnight Hammer
The bench instructed all parties to submit their detailed responses and adjourned the hearing for a later date. The case is expected to focus on balancing urban development plans with the protection of long-established commercial communities.
The ruling has brought temporary relief to the traders of Lyari vegetable market, who had expressed concern over the potential loss of their decades-old businesses. The matter will now proceed as the court examines whether KMC has fulfilled its obligation to provide proper rehabilitation before taking enforcement action.
