The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices regarding a petition demanding the enforcement of laws against wall chalking and the defacement of public property. The court is seeking responses from the Sindh government, the Karachi mayor, and other relevant authorities.
Enforcement of Law Against Wall Chalking
Advocate Tariq Mansoor filed the petition against the pervasive issue of wall chalking, posters, banners, and advertisements on government buildings, parks, and roads. This practice, he argued, has escalated significantly.
The Prevention of Defacement of Property Act (PDPA) was enacted in 2013, but according to the petitioner, it remains unimplemented after 12 years. SindhNews.com has reported on similar civic issues in the past.
Non-Implementation of the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act
A two-judge bench, led by Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry, has put the respondents and the advocate general on notice, with a hearing scheduled for February 10. The court has also sought details on the formation of a task force.
The law mandates the creation of an anti-property defacement task force, which has not yet been constituted. The petitioner stated that this inaction directly impacts constitutional rights, including the right to life under Article 9.
The PDPA prohibits property defacement and outlines punitive measures, including imprisonment. It also calls for programs to remove existing defacement. The petitioner has requested immediate and comprehensive enforcement of the act and the framing of rules within 30 days.
The SHC’s intervention highlights the ongoing struggle to maintain public spaces and uphold environmental regulations against persistent defacement.