High-rise construction: SBCA, KMC told to adhere to the law

Petitioners went to court against construction of commercial building on residential plot

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday directed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to ensure that no violation of law is committed in the construction of a high-rise commercial building in North Nazimabad.

A division bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, passed this direction while hearing a petition filed by the residents of North Nazimabad's Block-L, who went to court against the construction of a commercial building on a residential plot.

The petitioners alleged that the owners of the plot B-60 were undertaking the construction of the high-rise commercial plaza without obtaining any approved plan.

On Tuesday, their lawyer, Muhammad Zeeshan Khan, said that the plot owners were continuing their illegal constructions, due to which there were fears that they would create third party interest.

Advocate KA Wahab, who represented the owners of the plot, assured the court that the constructions were being raised strictly in accordance with the law. He said if any violation was committed, no third party interest would be created till the next date of hearing and no unauthorised construction would be raised.

The two judges ordered the KMC and SBCA officers to ensure that no illegal construction or violation was permitted. The petitioners were also directed to comply with this order till the next date of hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2015.