Builder of fallen building remanded

Four arrested for using loudspeaker at protest, granted bail on MPA's surety

KARACHI: A local court remanded on Thursday the builder of the five-storey residential building that collapsed in Rizvia Society last week, along with his accomplice.

At least 27 people were killed in the tragedy, while several others were injured. The builder, Javed Khan, had been arrested three days ago.

Talking to the media, Khan confessed to bribing government officials for each floor he constructed, adding that he had acquired approval for two floors from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA). He alleged that the SBCA could not have been unaware of the materials used for the construction.

Bail granted

Meanwhile, four men who had been arrested for violating the Sindh Sound System (Regulation) Act 2015 while protesting the tragedy on Thursday were granted bail on the personal surety of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Raja Azhar.

SBCA officials arrested in building collapse probe

The young men were brought before the West judicial magistrate, who ordered their release against a bond of Rs10,000.

Citizens protest

Separately, the residents of the collapsed building held a press conference near Rizvia Society on Friday.

"The builders bribed corrupt SBCA officials with Rs1.5m per portion to get permission for illegal construction," said one of the protesters, adding that this practice put the lives of many people at risk.

They claimed that multi-storey buildings had been constructed on small plots, with 150 illegal buildings in their vicinity alone. They added that they had filed several complaints with the SBCA about the dangerous structures, to no avail.

Moreover, they said, buildings in the area were deteriorating due to commercial water boring carried out to supply water to industrial areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2020.