KARACHI, June 30: Justice Maqbool Baqar of the Sindh High Court restrained a builder and developer and other defendants from creating third-party interest in a commercial complex being constructed by unlawfully converting Cheelwali Kothi , a city landmark near Bahadurabad.

The plaintiffs, including Shehri, alleged that the residential building was being converted into a shopping plaza and apartment complex. Their counsel, Khursheed Javaid, showed the court a letter from the housing and works ministry certifying that the premises were meant for purely residential purposes.

The lawyer maintained that all building rules and regulations were being violated by M/s Dattari Construction, who were developing the new commercial site, and other defendants. The violation would cause great hardship to the residents of the neighbourhood as Block 2 of the PECHS was already over commercialized.

He argued that the building rules allowed only ground-plus-one- floor bungalows in the area but the defendants were constructing a six-storeyed complex in addition to a basement.

Without obtaining a no-objection certificate from the Karachi Building Control Authority, shops and flats in the complex were being offered for sale in order create third-party interest, he submitted. The court directed that notices be issued to the defendants for July 12 and restrained them from creating third party interest in the meanwhile.

OUTDOOR ADS: Justice Maqbool Baqar of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday ordered that auction of rights for advertisement on hoardings be stayed in case of plaintiffs including, the Outdoor Advertisers Association, adds APP.