SHC orders registration of cases against builder, delinquent officers

Court irked over lack of action on FIR filed in 2016 against developer

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered registration of a case against the builder and an inquiry against the delinquent officers in a petition against illegal constructions in Block-13/D1 of Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput and Justice Muhammad Faisal Kamal Alam heard the petition during which Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) DG appeared in the court.

The SBCA counsels admitted the authority’s mistakes in the past. “No action has been taken against anyone in the past but now the system is changing,” the SBCA counsel told the court, adding that the DG has decided that action would be taken against all.

“It has repeatedly been remarked that action against the builder and the officers concerned will be taken simultaneously,” the court said. Justice Rajput remarked: “What evidence is required for action against builders and concerned officers? Are tall buildings not enough evidence?”

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the builder erected a ground plus five building. The court observed that an FIR was registered against the builder in 2016. “What happened in the case?” the court inquired.

The SBCA officials were unaware of the action taken against the builder which irked the court further.

Justice Alam in his remarks said that sometimes only cosmetic action is taken. The SBCA counsel stated that a team had gone to demolish the fourth floor but the children of the residents intercepted the work. The court said in its remarks, “Did you come back scared of children? What action was taken against the officers during whose tenure illegal constructions were carried out?”

The SBCA’s counsel said that action has been initiated against the officers. The court remarked that the fourth floor should be vacated and demolished with the help of local police.

The court ordered FIR against builder Muhammad Ahmed Wahidi and inquiry against the officers, seeking progress report on December 9.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2021.