KARACHI - The Sindh High Court has issued contempt notices to Sindh Building Control Authority DG Salim Raza Khoro, Deputy Director Central and builder Aqib Ali, besides ordering to register cases against them for failing to comply with the court order.
The Sindh High Court heard a case pertaining to illegal constructions in North Nazimabad, Karachi on Monday. The court was infuriated when it learnt that the SBCA and builders were failed to comply with its order and did not raze the illegal structures in Nazimabad.
The court ordered to register the First Investigation Reports (FIRs) against the SBCA officers, builders and the plot owner. The court showed its anger over de-sealing the sealed building. It gave a good dressing down to the SBCA central deputy director.
Court infuriated when it learnt SBCA, builders were failed to comply with its order and did not raze the illegal structures in Nazimabad
Justice Zafar Ahmad Rajpoot asked the officials why they didn’t take any action yet. He remarked that illegal constructions were not possible without their connivance. He asked them to tell him had they taken any action against any of their inspectors. He said he would order for registration of FIRs not only against builders but all. Justice Rajpoot remarked that de-sealing the sealed property was a straight criminal case enough to register an FIR. What the inspectors of the SBCA were doing in the area, the justice asked.
SHC orders action against illegal construction in Aram Bagh
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday turned down a plea to restrain the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) from action against a structure in Aram Bagh area. A bench of the high court ordered the SBCA to take action against illegal construction.
A petitioner had pleaded for a restraining order against the SBCA action. “Our construction is not illegal, SBCA being involved in an unlawful action against us,” the petitioner said in an application.
“The petitioner has encroached six feet portion of a street in Aram Bagh and added it into his house,” a SBCA lawyer said. “Who has restrained you from acting against it,” the court said. “The petitioner has got a stay order from court,” the counsel replied. “No restraining order applicable, you should go and act against it,” the court said. A high court bench in October hearing of a contempt of court petition on the building control authority’s failure to furnish a report on Akbar Road’s alleged illegal developments had summoned the director general of the authority to appear before the court.
Why despite six months since the court orders there has not been any report furnished on the constructions deemed illegal, SHC judge Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput questioned. The petitioner in his contempt of court plea said that an influential group is illegally taking over lands on the Akbar Road for development works, over which the court had asked of SBCA to look into the matter. It’s been six months since we directed a compliance report, but the DG SBCA vanishes from the scene after only eyewash actions, the court said.