Rizvia building collapse: Court extends builder’s remand

Next hearing on March 24


​ Our Correspondent March 22, 2020
PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: A local court extended on Saturday the physical remand of the owner of the residential building that collapsed in Rizvia Society earlier this month. The court also granted bail to three officials of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), also accused in the case, against surety bonds worth Rs500,000 each.

During the hearing at Central Jail, Karachi, the investigation officer (IO) accused the building's owner, Muhammad Javed Khan, of "taking advantage of being blind," and informed the court that he had identified SBCA officials responsible for the collapse.

Khan's counsel, however, argued that his client was blind and hence, unable to identify any officials. Saying that there was no need to remand Khan, the counsel requested the court to send him back to jail.

Contesting this argument, the public prosecutor said that though Khan was blind, he could tell the authorities the names of officials responsible for the collapse, which left at least 27 people dead. He held Khan responsible for their deaths.

The court extended Khan's physical remand to March 23 and directed the relevant officials to appear before the court at the next hearing on March 24.

Moreover, it approved the bails of three SBCA officials accused in the case, namely SBCA deputy director Sarfaraz Jamali, assistant director Maqsood Qureshi and inspector Irfan, ordering each of them to submit a surety bond of Rs500,000 against the bail.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2020.

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