ORDER SHEET

IN THE HIGH COURT OF SINDH KARACHI

 

Crl. Rev. Application No.23 of 2024

 

Date

Order with Signature of Judge

 

For hearing of main case.

 

27.02.2026

 

 

M/s. Usman Farooq and Waqas Advocates for the Applicant.

Mr. Zahoor Shah, Addl. P.G. Sindh.

            ------------------------------------

 

            Applicant Ahmed Hassan is Complainant in I.D. Complaint No.14/2019 and same was brought on record after verification of registered lease deed by the concerned Department. He has also moved application under Section 7 of the Illegal Dispossession Act, 2005 along with I.D. Complainant but the same was dismissed by learned trial Court vide order dated 12.01.2024.

 

Learned counsel for the Applicant submits Applicant is lawful owner of the property; that respondent/accused have approached this Court and filed Constitution Petition No.D-2276/2018 against Board of Revenue and claimed subject property on the basis of Goth/Village Abad Scheme and the same was dismissed by this Court vide order dated 30.04.2025; that claim of respondent on the basis of Goth Abad Sanad was not considered by this Court in the aforesaid petition and held that these Sanads are based on bogus and forged documents and the petition was disposed by imposing fine of Rs.100,000/-; that the case of the applicant is based on registered lease deed and title documents are not disputed but learned trial Court did not consider his plea on the ground that the matter is subjudice before this Court; that after passing of order in the aforesaid constitution petition, controversy has been resolved, which establishes his undisputed right over the subject property. He finally prayed for setting aside the impugned order of learned trial Court and that the trial Court may be directed to hand over the possession of the subject property to the applicant/complainant.

 

Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim Abro, learned counsel for respondents 1 and 2 is called absent without intimation.

 

Learned A.P.G. submits that directions may be given to the trial Court to decide this case on merits.

 

Heard learned counsel for the applicant as well as learned A.P.G. and perused the material available on record.

 

In fact, Section 7 of the Illegal Dispossession Act, 2005 empowers the Court to restore the possession during pendency of the I.D. Complaint. In the present case, learned trial Court declined the application under Section 7 of the Illegal Dispossession Act, 2005 filed by the complainant on the ground that the matter is subjudice before this Court. Learned counsel for the applicant/complainant has provided copy of Order passed in C.P. No.D-2276/2018, which was dismissed on 30.04.2025 with the following observations:

“14.    Given the foregoing facts – particularly the willful suppression of the dismissal of two earlier Petitions on the identical subject (viz. CP NO.D-2469/2009 and CP No.D-1111/2013) – The present Petition is dismissed with costs of Rs.1,000,000/- (Rupees  One Million). While this matter is fit for the imposition of costs on the Petitioners’ Counsel as well, owing to his failure to disclose the existence of CP No.D-2469/2009 – despite its express citation in the title of the order dated 6.4.2011, upon which he himself relied – we are for now exercising utmost restraint. However, Counsel is hereby warned that any future attempt to mislead the Court, or to withhold material facts, may result in more severe consequences, including the imposition of personal costs. The said amount shall be deposited within twenty- five (25) days from today into the account of the High Court Judges Library, and proof of deposited shall be submitted to the Office. In the event of failure to deposit the amount(s) within the specified time, the Office shall immediately list the matter before the Court for further orders.

 

15.       The imposition of costs is deemed fiting in this matter, not only to discourage imprudent and repetitive litigation and safeguard the efficient use of judicial time and resources, but also to serve as a clear deterrent against attempts to manipulate the judicial forum in furtherance of unlawful claims over public land.”

 

            Since this Court in the aforesaid petition did not endorse the claim of the respondents and held that claim of respondent is based on bogus and forged Goth Abad Sanads and the petitioner was disposed of by imposing fine on the petitioners as well as on their counsel. Since controversy has been resolved by this Court and there is no ambiguity in the matter over the title documents and, prima facie, complainant is lawful owner of the subject property, therefore, impugned order is set aside and application filed by the applicant under Section 7 of the Illegal Dispossession Act, 2005 is allowed, with direction to the learned trial Court to hand over the possession of the subject property to the applicant/complainant within two weeks, in accordance with law.

 

            Instant criminal revision application stands disposed of in the above terms.

 

                                                   J U D G E