Fire those involved in illegal construction, SHC orders SBCA

Plea highlights menace in Liaquatabad, says nine-storey structures built on 90-yd plots

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) officials to terminate any teams involved in illegal construction and remove encroachments immediately, while issuing notices to the SBCA DG, Liaquatabad Town deputy director and others to submit their replies.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan, was hearing a plea against illegal structures and encroachments in the city.

The petitioner's counsel maintained that illegal construction is being carried out in Liaquatabad on a large scale, adding that nine-story buildings were being built on 90-yard plots. He stated that several letters had been sent to SBCA but no action has been taken yet. Moreover, he said, the petitioner was also being harassed for filing a plea seeking the removal of encroachments.

He claimed that SBCA and other relevant institutions have been involved in the illegal construction.

Missing person case

The court sought comments from the Sindh government, Rangers director-general and Sindh Inspector General of Police on a petition filed about the disappearance of a citizen.

An SHC bench was hearing the petition filed by Aijaz Hussain, father of the missing citizen, Waqar Hussain.

The petitioner stated before the court that his son was taken away from his house in Muslimabad, Malir City, by people in plain clothes on January 27, 2020. He also informed the court that the vehicle in which his son was taken away did not have a registration plate.

Usman Farooq, Aijaz's counsel, urged the court to take legal action against those kidnappers and recover Waqar.

Court issues notices

An SHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh, issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sukkur director-general and investigation officer in an assets beyond means case against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Manzoor Wassan.

The bench was hearing a protective bail plea of Wassan, who appeared before the court with other co-accused in the case. The court extended Wassan's protective bail until March 11.

The NAB prosecutor informed the bench that 42 properties had been traced during the inquiry against Wassan. At this, the court asked NAB to provide evidence of the property's ownership. "We know everything that NAB is doing in Sindh," Justice Shaikh remarked.

The NAB prosecutor told the court that the inquiry against the accused was in progress, asking for more time to submit the final report of the inquiry.

The bench summoned NAB Sukkur DG to the next hearing, and also directed NAB to submit the progress report on March 11.

In the previous hearing, the SHC had ordered the bureau to file a reference against Wassan and inform the court about it on February 12. Wassan is facing charges of having assets beyond his known sources of income.

Appointing provincial ombudsman

Another bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali, issued notices to Sindh government, governor and other relevant officials over a plea challenging the transfer of the authority to appoint the provincial ombudsman to the Sindh chief minister.

The petitioner's counsel maintained that transferring this power was illegal, claiming that the laws have been amended to favour certain people.

The court issued notices to the Sindh governor, Sindh CM and law secretary and sought replies from them, while adjourning the hearing until March 3. The plea moves the court to declare the recent amendment passed on the matter as illegal.

Electricity price hike

The SHC also ordered the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) chairman to submit a reply on the next hearing of a plea pertaining to the hike in electricity rates.

The petitioner had maintained in the plea that NEPRA has been given the authority to increase the rates as per their will. He further claimed that there had been no reforms in K-Electric (KE)since its privatisation, adding that the power supply corporation was making billions of rupees every month but citizens were getting no relief. He stated before the court that KE had committed fraud worth billions of rupees by stealing copper.

The plea moved the court to annul the increase in electricity rates by KE.

Notification nullified

An SHC bench nullified the notification issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to seal two Pakistan State Oil petrol pumps.

The petitioner's counsel maintained that the petrol pumps were sealed by placing obstacles, despite fulfilling all the requirements to get the land lease renewed after it had expired.

The court ordered the CAA to unseal both petrol pumps, located at the airport and Sharae Faisal, and also nullified the notification issued by CAA for sealing the pumps.

 

(With additional information from PPI.)