The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the Sindh government and several prominent figures, including Faryal Talpur and Dr Asim Hussain, in response to a petition challenging the allotment of land for the Education City project in Karachi’s Malir district.
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A two-judge constitutional bench headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon took up the petition and directed the respondents — including the provincial government, officials, and the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau — to submit their replies. The hearing was subsequently adjourned for four weeks.
The petitioner, Ghulam Akbar, argued that the Sindh government had allotted 9,600 acres of land across various dehs in Malir to Dr Asim Hussain for the development of the Education City project without proper inquiry. He further claimed that the project had yet to materialise despite the initial allocation.
According to the petition, the government later allocated an additional 10,000 acres for the same project, bringing the total land allotment to 19,600 acres. The petitioner alleged that the scheme was being used to “usurp valuable land” belonging to local residents.
The plea also raised concerns over the status of agricultural land leases in the area. It stated that thousands of farmers who had been cultivating land under leases ranging from 10 to 30 years are now facing uncertainty due to non-renewal of these agreements.
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The petitioner requested the court to cancel the allotments and urged authorities to introduce a clear policy framework for the renewal and extension of agricultural leases. He argued that such measures are necessary to protect the livelihoods of local communities dependent on farming.