Judicial commission wants SBCA to get its act together

Don't tell us of demolition, tell us how illegal buildings were constructed, Justice (retd) Muslim remarks

KARACHI: The head of the Supreme Court-mandated Judicial Commission on Water and Sanitation, Justice (retd) Amir Hani Muslim, has directed the Sindh government to submit a report on the commercialisation of plots in the SITE area by October 1.

He also ordered the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director-general (DG) to complete an inquiry against suspended officers within 1.5 months and submit a report in this regard. Meanwhile, the commission gave one month's time to the chairperson of a Chinese company for solid waste management to appear before the commission. It further ordered the company to speed up the process of cleaning and summoned a progress report within 15 days.



In a conversation with the SBCA DG, Justice (retd) Muslim said the authority itself was involved in facilitating illegal constructions.

"How many directors have been removed? Such officers should be ousted," Justice (retd) Muslim remarked.

The hearing of the water commission took place on Monday in the Sindh High Court where the SBCA DG, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board managing director and other top officials appeared before the court.

During the proceedings, the issue of converting industrial plots into commercial use was addressed. The commission inquired from the government lawyer as to what the stance of the Sindh government was regarding the transfer of SITE land to commercial use. Advocate-General Shabbir Shah said that three meetings were held with the chief secretary and an answer will soon be given.

The commission directed that a reference be sent to the Supreme Court regarding the illegal use of SITE land. Expressing its anger, the commission said that a circus was being created.

"How can government land be changed for other purposes? According to the law, the purpose of the land cannot be changed," the commission clarified.

Addressing the AG, the commission said, "It seems you are defending SITE instead of the Sindh government." It was remarked this was not government land and the government is only a trustee. To this, the AG responded that the status of some part of the more than 20,000 acres of land has been changed.

Shah argued that the Sindh government be given more time so a reply could be submitted in the matter. The provincial government, he claimed, was fully implementing the orders of the water commission.

The industries additional secretary informed that converting 1% of land into a commercial plot is allowed.

There would be an increase in pressure on civil institutions due to sale of commercial plots in industrial areas and increase in sewerage issues due to trade activities as a result of conversion of industrial land into commercial, according to the commission. Therefore, the government was given a deadline of October 1 for the submission of a reply in the matter.

Meanwhile, the matter of construction of high-rise buildings near Quaid's mausoleum was also taken up by the commission. The SBCA DG told the commission that it takes action against those who violate the law, to which the commission inquired, "Tell us what action has been taken? It happens due to involvement of your officers."



The SBCA DG shared that many officers had been suspended and an inquiry was under way.

"You all supervise illegal constructions. You take salaries for nothing," Justice (retd) Muslim responded.

Expressing discontent, the commission asked how such violations occurred.

"How many directors were removed? Throw such officers out. Don't tell us of demolition, tell us how these illegal buildings were constructed," the commission remarked.

Rejecting the DG's report, Justice (retd) Muslim ordered the inquiry against the suspended officers be completed in 1.5 months or the matter would be sent to the National Accountability Bureau.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2018.