SBCA chief’s failure to show up for hearing angers court

Hearing a plea seeking the implementation of fire safety laws, a two-member bench of Sindh High Court, headed by Justice Mazhar and comprising Justice Amjad Ali Sahito, gave the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director general (DG) a last warning to appear before the court.

Irked at the DG’s absence, Justice Mazhar said, “The court had summoned the SBCA DG, not the SBCA technical director.”

At this, the counsel for the SBCA apologised to the court, assuring it that the DG would attend the next hearing.

When the court warned of issuing a contempt notice if the DG failed to attend the next hearing, the counsel informed it that he couldn’t appear before the court on the day as he was attending a cabinet meeting.

The counsel prayed the court to give the DG one last chance.

Giving a last warning to the DG, the court adjourned the hearing until February 12.

Notices issued

Separately, the court issued notices to the SBCA, the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and other parties over a plea pertaining to illegal occupation and construction on the land reserved for a park in Federal B Area Block 21.

The petitioner’s counsel maintained that illegal construction is being done on a one acre amenity plot reserved for a park and a parking lot.

The court sought replies from the SBCA, KDA and other parties by February 17.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2021.