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| October 20, 2005 | Thursday | Ramzan 15, 1426 |
Remaining Margalla blocks to be demolished
ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: The government has decided to demolish three remaining blocks of Margalla Towers with the consent of its residents, officials told Dawn on Wednesday.
The residents have filed a case in the Supreme Court against the owner of the building and Capital Development Authority (CDA) for poor construction, official sources told Dawn on Wednesday.
Chief Relief Commissioner Maj-Gen Farooq Ahmed Khan also told reporters on Wednesday during a daily briefing that government had decided to demolish three remaining blocks of Margalla Towers because it had become dangerous.
When contacted, Margalla Towers Residents Action Committee (MTRAC) President Dr Aasem Masood Chaudry said the residents of the building had no objection over demolition of the remaining towers.
He said the case filed by some of the residents against the first owner Ramzan Khokhar and the CDA had been accepted by the apex court for hearing.
One-and-a-half blocks of Margalla Towers containing 38 flats caved in during the strongest earthquake that jolted many parts of the country including the capital on October 8. About 68 people were killed and 89 received injuries in the tragic incident.
The president of the action committee said the residents would not accept any decision regarding their rehabilitation if it was made without their consent.
Meanwhile, a source said the Frontier Works Organisations (FWO) currently engaged for removing rubble of Margalla Towers, would hand over the site to the local administration on Thursday.
The source said the rescue operation had completed leaving no hope for any other survivor.
On the other hand, a source said efforts were being made for extradition of Ramzan Khokhar, the owner of Margalla Tower currently residing in the UK.
The owner of the building has been accused of using substandard material during the construction of the complex.
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