Corrupted building controls

The acquittal of top Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) officials in the Nasla Tower Karachi case has left everyone questioning what it will take to penalise corrupt developers and city officials responsible for zoning and other administrative duties.

In the Nasla tower case, for example, the Supreme Court had already ruled that the building was illegal, meaning that the builders and their associates in the government were undoubtedly liable on account of corruption or incompetence. The fact that the lower court did not convict based on lack of evidence implies that either it has higher evidentiary standards than the senior-most judge of the highest court in the land, or that the prosecution was so bad that they could not close an open-and-shut case.

Whatever the reason, the case is part of a now-familiar script where the powerful officials responsible for Karachi's crumbling skyline are miraculously absolved. Recall the Gulbahar building collapse five years ago, where the building's owner and four of his relatives were convicted of manslaughter. Yet not a single senior SBCA official faced the music, even though somebody had to sign off on the building violations that led to the disaster. Whether corrupt or incompetent, at the very least, that person should have faced some consequences. Unfortunately, investigations are lethargic, evidence is mysteriously "lost," and prosecutions are feeble at best.

The system is clearly broken, and because of this, the SBCA operates with a brazen sense of impunity, knowing that no matter how egregious their oversight or how deep their corruption, their powerful allies will ultimately protect them. Just a few days ago, a fireworks factory blew up on MA Jinnah Road, with deadly consequences. Whoever allowed an explosives factory to operate in the city needs to be taken to task, but the record suggests they will only spend a few hours or days in lockup before going home to reap their unjust rewards. Until we break this cycle and demand accountability at every level, tragedies will continue and high officials will keep skating past justice.