KARACHI: After Nasla Tower and under-construction Tejori Heights, the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday ordered the demolition of Makkah Terrace near Karachi’s Preedy Street within a month.
At the onset of the hearing, Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput expressed anger and over director-general of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and said that the authority’s performance was “zero”.
Justice Zafar took notice of all the buildings constructed on illegal land in Saddar, saying, “Our only option now is to demolish these structures.” He instructed DG SBCA to prepare a list of all “corrupt” officers and present it in court by the next week.
“Give us the names and details of the officers who allowed the construction of illegal buildings. I don’t care if they are dead, alive, or even retired,” the judge added.
When the SBCA representative tried to interrupt, the court got irked and said, “What action have you taken against these officers? Are they still on the seat or were they suspended? Did you arrest the builder of Makkah Tower?”
The building authority’s director-general replied that an investigation against the builder will be launched. To this, Justice Rajput said, “What were you doing earlier? Sleeping? The reason you’re standing here in court is because of your officers.”
He warned that the court will take the corrupt officers to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) if the need arises. “We will instruct an audit of their assets too,” he added.
The Sindh High Court’s decision comes after a series of judgments passed by the Supreme Court against illegal structures in Karachi. Last week, during hearings at the apex court’s Karachi registry, demolition orders of Nasla Tower and Tejori Heights were passed as well.
