SBCA officials arrested for alleged extortion

Police have rounded up several suspects in connection with an alleged extortion and vandalism case involving the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).

Those taken into custody by Preedy police include Senior Building Inspector Umeer Karim, and Building Inspectors Zafar Supari and Amin on charges of terrorism and extortion provisions for allegedly extorting money from a local builder, named Bilal Najeeb, and causing damage to his project. However, another two suspects nominated in the FIR, SBCA Deputy Director Syed Owais Hussain and Zia Kala, are evading arrest.

In his police complaint, Bilal Najeeb stated that he is a resident of the Clifton neighbourhood and works as project manager at a private construction company. On June 22, at around 11:30 am, three individuals claiming to be employees of the SBCA, namely Muhammad Amin, Zafar Iqbal, and Syed Umair Karim, arrived at his project site located at plot No. PR/15/2 on MA Jinnah Road, Karachi. They informed him that they were there to inspect the building and proceeded to review all the project documentation. Subsequently, they conveyed to him that Syed Owais Hussain, the deputy director of SBCA, had sent them to demolish the project unless an amount of Rs4 million was paid in bribe.

The complainant further stated that he contacted his office and requested Sulaiman Ryder to bring Rs500,000, taking into account the potential damage to the project. The money was handed over to Muhammad Amin, who assured him that he would arrange for the remaining Rs3.5 million. Following the exchange, the individuals left the site. The complainant discussed the matter with the plot owner, Saleem Godal, who questioned the necessity of paying extortion money to the SBCA.

Throughout this period, the SBCA officials repeatedly contacted the complainant and demanded "extortion money". As the remaining amount was delayed, they arrived at the site with their labourers and proceeded to vandalise the property, causing damage estimated to be between Rs1.5-2 million.

When the project manager, arrived at the site, he confronted them, but they threatened to cancel the project's necessary permits and escalate the vandalism to the basement if the money was not paid. Following discussions with the project's owner, Bilal Najeeb went to the Preedy police station to file the FIR.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2023.