SHC orders SBCA to stop construction of penthouse in high-rise

Petitioner said builder was not handing over possession to buyers

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed on Tuesday the director-general of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to ensure that no penthouse is constructed on a high-rise building, in violation of the approved building plan.

Headed by Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, the division bench also issued notices to the secretary local government department, the SBCA director-general, SBCA building director and the owners and builders of the LT Tower to file comments by November 27. The construction of the penthouse was challenged in the court by Haji Asif, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry official. The petitioner told the judges that he and many other chamber members have bought flats in the 13-storey LT Tower. The project includes basement, shops on ground floor, parking on third floor and recreational area on the fourth floor. From fifth to 13th floor there are only residential flats, he explained.

The petitioner said that, despite the completion of the project, the builder is not handing them over the possession of their flats. The builder in connivance with SBCA officials has started additional construction of a penthouse in violation of the building plan approved by the SBCA, he claimed. He pleaded the court declare the penthouse illegal and restrain the builder from its construction.

The bench issued notices to the SBCA DG, director buildings, Karachi administrator, LG secretary, the plot's owner and the builder to file their comments by November 27.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2015.