KARACHI – The Sindh High Court has threatened to initiate criminal proceedings against all municipal corporations, including local government bodies, if they fail to remove hoardings and billboards from public land in compliance with the Supreme Court’s 2016 verdict.

The SHC warned that if a violation of this order was found, the actions of these authorities would be considered derogatory and their heads would face criminal prosecution.

A two-judge bench comprising Justices Salahuddin Panhwar and Amjad Ali Sahito also directed all the authorities/parties concerned to submit fresh compliance reports with documentary evidence of the action taken against illegal hoardings, billboards, banners, posters, Panaflex lights and other advertisements on public land by the next hearing.

The court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking implementation of a 2016 Supreme Court judgement against installation of hoardings and billboards on public land. The Supreme Court had issued various compliance directions to the concerned authorities and called for reports. At the beginning of the hearing, a Cantonment Board lawyer Faisal made a statement claiming that Cantonment Board officials had inspected the area and removed all hoardings, billboards and banners from public land falling under their jurisdiction while no person or firm had been granted any permission or license to install hoardings on public places. One of the petitioners filed a statement in support of her contempt of court application, pointing out that the Clifton Cantonment Board had failed to file a compliance report.

“Accordingly, all respective parties are required to file fresh compliance reports with documentary evidence that they have taken action against illegal hoardings, billboards, banners, posters, Panaflex ads and advertisements etc. on public land and have complied with the directions of the Supreme Court,” the court added in its order.

It was also pointed out that the petitions had been filed for implementation of the orders passed by the Supreme Court on May 5, 2016. The SHC had repeatedly issued directions to the KMC, TMCs, Cantonment Councils, Deputy Central Commissioner and other relevant parties, while a provincial law officer had filed a compliance report on behalf of the DC.

The court further stated, “The directions contained in the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan shall also be followed in letter and spirit by KDA, KMC, all TMCs and all Cantonment Boards. If any violation of the said judgment is found, their actions shall be considered derogatory and their department heads shall face criminal proceedings.”

A lawyer for one of the petitioners argued that the rules issued by the competent authorities for installation of hoardings, hoardings, banners, posters, panaflex sheets and advertisements etc. on public land were against the spirit of the Supreme Court’s judgment. The court adjourned the hearing to a date to be fixed in four weeks and directed a provincial judicial officer to assist the court on the issue of the rules. It stated that the court would decide the fate of these petitions in view of the Supreme Court’s judgment and after hearing all the parties at the next hearing.