SC orders demolition of illegally constructed residential building in Karachi
SC orders demolition of an illegally constructed residential building in Karachi!!
Taking notice of encroachments, on Thursday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the demolition of an 11-storey building constructed illegally in the city.
The development occurred as Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed presided the hearing of petitions against the encroachments in the city at Karachi Registry.
The SC judge inquired about the residential project, Nasla Tower from the Karachi commissioner during the hearing of a petition against encroachments on Karachi’s Sharae Faisal and Sharae Quaideen.
Upon the inquiry, the commissioner Karachi replied that the Sindh Building Control Authority had stated the building has not been constructed on any nullah.
The advocate general said that one side of the building is illegal and that should be demolished.
“Don’t talk about the SBCA in front of us,” the judge said.
They are responsible for all illegal constructions in Karachi. “There is not vacant land in PECHS. Where did this land come from?”
The SBCA DG said that this land was spotted after the re-allotment of the road.
To this, the top judge remarked: “So does this mean that you would sell this land? What have you been doing? You will even allot CM House if you could.”
Chief Justice expressed anger at the Karachi Commissioner over the abysmal condition of the city’s encroachments, saying that “we are going to remove the Karachi Commissioner”.
“You think we will take the deputy commissioner’s report seriously? What type of a report is this?” he asked the chief secretary.
Referring to the Karachi Commissioner and the SBCA, the bench added that these institutions were “rubber stamps.”
The bench further added that they had no idea how many NAB cases will be filed against them based on the irregularities related to encroachments.
“If you are creating so many problems for us, imagine the number of problems you create for the people,” remarked the chief justice.
He said the Sindh chief minister was directed to submit a report on the city’s encroachments in the apex court and in response, “he said all is well”.
“It’s written everywhere that the report is awaited. Chief Secretary Sahab remove such officers.”
The legal counsel for the Kidney Hill Park residents, Barrister Salahuddin, requested the Supreme Court to direct the builder to compensate them for selling them encroachments.
“Our houses [on the land] have been built for the past 25 years and the maps for them were approved by the Sindh government,” he said.
To this, the CJP responded: “They’re not children. While buying houses, one is fully aware [regarding details of the land],” he said.
