SHC orders action against illegal construction

Court rejects TikToker Hareem Shah plea against FIA inquiry

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court has directed the Sindh Building Control Authority director general to take immediate action on the petition of Works Cooperative Housing Society against illegal construction on school land in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block-8.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, heard the petition. The petitioner's counsel contended that the builders were raising illegal construction on school land. "Any construction on school land is against the law."

The court directed the DG SBCA to take immediate action. The court ordered the nazir of the Sindh High Court to conduct an inspection. The court sought a comprehensive report from DG SBCA and others. The SHC also sought an inspection report from the nazir. It directed that police protection be provided during the inspection.

Hareem Shah plea

Also, the SHC has rejected famous TikToker Hareem Shah's plea against an FIA inquiry.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro, heard Hareem Shah's petition against the FIA inquiry. The court asked why the petitioner did not appear despite a court order.

The petitioner's counsel argued that Hareem Shah had gone to perform Umrah. "Her bank and social media accounts have been frozen. The FIA acted in the absence of Hareem Shah."

Read More: Illegal constructions creep in city

The assistant attorney general stated that the FIA had sent several notices, but Hareem Shah did not appear. The court remarked that if the petitioner considered the court order unnecessary, it should dispose of the petition. "If Hareem Shah returns, she can file a new petition."

The persistent absences cost well-known TikToker dearly. The court rejected Hareem Shah's petition against the FIA proceedings.

Sentence upheld

Meanwhile, the SHC has rejected the appeal of convicted drug smugglers and ordered that the decision of the lawer court be upheld.

Led by Justice KK Agha, the bench rejected the appeal of the suspects against their sentence. The court upheld the sentences of Lal Muhammad and Sirajuddin.

The SHC ruled that in light of the evidence, the crime of drugs supply has been well proven against the suspects. "Criminals who supply drugs do not deserve any concessions."

According to the prosecution, the model trial court had sentenced both suspects to life imprisonment and fined them Rs100,000. The suspects were arrested by CTD in 2019 from the Northern Bypass area.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2022.