KARACHI: SHC orders inquiry against KBCA men: Construction on parking space
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Nov 25: A Sindh High Court division bench asked the Anti-corruption Establishment (ACE) on Friday to hold an inquiry against the Karachi Building Control Authority officials involved in the construction on parking space in a housing-cum-residential complex in Saddar.
Another division bench comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Athar Saeed had earlier this month restrained the ACE from probing promotions and appointments in the Authority as the provincial ombudsman was already seized of the matter. The ombudsman was looking into maladministration in the KBCA under a high court order of September 2004 when the ACE launched its probe. Chief controller A. S. Nasir resigned amidst the abortive probe.
Friday’s order was passed by the division bench comprising Justices Mushir Alam and Amir Hani Muslim on a petition moved by purchaser-owners of three flats in Sharjah Centre, Saddar. The flats had been occupying the space reserved in the approved plan for parking. They complained that their flats had been ordered sealed by the KBCA, which had suddenly awakened to the violation of parking lot 12 years after the building’s construction.
The petitioners said the KBCA action would cause them an irreparable and irreversible loss. Asked by the bench why the flats were being sealed, KBCA counsel Anwar Ali Shah submitted the respondent Authority had no option but to act in accordance with the law and rules. The flats were grossly violative of the building rules and the Authority would be accused of dereliction of duty if it took no action.
The bench observed that the action had been taken rather late when innocent purchasers had already come into possession of the property. According to the petitioners’ counsel, the violations occurred and were hitherto ignored due to complicity between the builder-developer and the KBCA officials concerned.
Asked about the KBCA officials responsible for ensuring construction in accordance with the approved plans in the area, the counsel said they were not traceable from the record. The bench asked the ACE to find out the officials responsible and proceed against them.
KESC SALE: Another division bench consisting Justices Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Mrs Yasmin Abbasi issued notices to respondents for Nov 30 in a petition seeking the transfer of the Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation to the new buyers.
The petitioners, KESC Labour Union, certain officials and shareholders of the corporation, alleged that another Saudi firm had come forward after Kanoozul Watan, the highest bidders, backed out. The new purchasers, Al Jumiah, had not participated in the bid and some other people were behind the deal. It requested the court to order cancellation of the deal in the public interest.
DETENTION CASE: The Sindh High Court on Friday adjourned to Nov 29 hearing of a petition against the alleged detention of an IBA student by law-enforcement agencies since October 30 last year, adds PPI.
Ms Zahida Leghari had claimed that her son, Affan Leghari, had been arrested by from his residence in Gulzar-i-Hijri area. She said the agencies personnel had also taken away his educational documents and when the concerned police station was approached, they refused to take action in this regard.
She said that her son was in their custody without being told of any charge and prayed to the court to order his production before it.
