Post earthquake: Petitioner asks for inspection of buildings in Islamabad

IHC serves notice to several govt officials, seeks replies within a fortnight

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday issued notices to several government officials seeking inspection of the structural conditions of public and private sector high-rise buildings in the capital after the earthquake that hit Pakistan on October 26.

Justice Athar Minallah issued notices to the Capital Administration and Development secretary, the Capital Development Authority chairman, the Islamabad Capital Territory chief commissioner, and the National Disaster Management Authority chairman.

The court directed the respondents to submit a reply within a fortnight.

Petitioner Advocate Sardar Anzar Iqbal Khan, through his counsel Barrister Afzal Hussain, is seeking formation of a high-powered commission – comprising only of state officials – in the public interest, after the 8.1 magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks.

Apart from the respondents, the counsel stated, the cabinet secretary, Pakistan Engineering Council chairman, district and session judges of Islamabad, and the Inspector General of the Islamabad can also be included in the commission supervising the conditions of public and private sector high-rise buildings (commercial and residential towers), hotels, courts, hospitals, offices, schools, colleges, universities and societies in the capital.

While highlighting the importance and urgency of the issue, Hussain referred to the massive earthquake that hit Pakistan on October 8, 2005, leaving thousands dead, including dozens who died after Margalla Towers in Islamabad’s Sector F-10 collapsed.

Hussain urged the court to direct the federal government to immediately constitute a high-powered commission to inspect the structural conditions of all the buildings. In addition, the commission may be mandated to take necessary steps to ensure the protection of the life and property of citizens and also to take necessary legal action in case a building is become dangerous for its inhabitants, he added.

He also prayed the court to direct the commission to submit a comprehensive report on the structural conditions of public, government and private sector buildings in Islamabad within 15 working days.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2015.