SC gives commissioner a week to demolish Nasla Tower

Bench questions method of tearing down the structure

KARACHI:

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday ordered Karachi commissioner to ensure complete demolition of Nasla Tower within a week and submit an implementation report.

During the hearing on Friday, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed censured Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Amir Hafiz Naeem for trying to speak up during the hearing.

The Nasla Tower case was heard before a bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed at the Supreme Court Karachi Registry.

Karachi commissioner also appeared during the hearing. The CJP remarked that the building is being demolished from the ground floor due to which its foundations may weaken and the entire structure may abruptly collapse. He further demanded the commissioner as to who would be responsible if an accident happened due to abrupt fall of the building.

Commissioner said the building is unlikely to break abruptly during the demolition phase. He said that the method being used was of industry standard for demolishing buildings. Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked, “Where did this fashion of tearing down buildings come from?”

Commissioner said demolition engineers were supervising process. The upper floors will be demolished later.

During the hearing, Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman came to the rostrum and tried to speak. CJP Gulzar Ahmed intervened and asked him to introduce himself, to which Hafiz Naeem said that he was the Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi.

Justice Gulzar Ahmed censured him for appearing at the rostrum and remarked that the court would entertain no political speech. CJP removed Rehman from the rostrum.

Read More: As deadline expires all residents vacate Nasla Tower

Rehman said that he wanted to talk about compensation for the affectees of Nasla Tower. However, Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed asked him to leave the rostrum.

The JI Karachi chief demanded as to whether the victims would get their compensation. The Chief Justice remarked asked him to explain his interest for the victims, adding that the court has already ordered it.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan in his remarks said that there was no space for politics in the courtroom.

The court officials were asked to take Rehman out of the courtroom.

The court ordered Commissioner Karachi to demolish the illegal building within a week and submit a report.

Later, while talking to media outside the court, Rehman said that he had visited Nasla Tower on Thursday and had appeared at the court on Friday to express his support for the victims. “We are here to fight the case for the people of Nasla Tower,” he said, adding that Jamaat-e-Islami has asked the court to be a party in this case.

“We will go to any lengths to get the rights of Karachi,” he said.

The Supreme Court, in a petition seeking evacuation of Hindu Gymkhana building from the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), sought a report from the Sindh government within a month for its relocation.

Secretary culture and Karachi commissioner, who appeared in the court, were reprimanded by the top court. The bench inquired about the implementation of its previous orders. The Karachi commissioner said that a report was sought from the deputy commissioner but no suitable place was found in the downtown.

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