Sindh High Court (SHC) Saturday issued orders to stop commercial use of the properties specified for defence purposes but allotted to the institutes and the people in Karachi.

According to the 24News HD TV channel, the SHC also ordered the official assigning authorities to investigate and present the report before the court within the next 15 days.

The SHC taking action on the petitions from different applicants prohibited the commercial use of 19 wedding halls, marquees and cinemas in different defence-related areas in the city.

The SHC said in its orders that commercial use of Nueplex Cinemas in DHA Karachi, Falcon Mall at Shahrah-e-Faisal, Signature and Imperial banquet halls at Dalmia Road, Imtiaz Super Store in Zamzama, marriage halls in Askari-4, banquet halls in DHA Phase-7 and 8 should be stopped.

The court also ordered to stop commercial use of all banquets established around the Karachi airport as such lands were lent to the Pak army, navy and air force and other institutes for defence purposes only.

The court ordered the official assigning authorities of such defence related properties that the legal position of such lands should also be cleared.