June 29, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 13, 1428

ISLAMABAD, June 28: The Supreme Court on Thursday suspended four officials of the Lahore Development Authority for abetting the construction of a 10-storey building in violation of building by-laws.

A bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday and Justice Falak Sher, issued notice for the cancellation of bail to Ameer Masood Nasir, owner of the Masood Hospital and suspended an LDA director for town planning, Mohammad Akram, two deputy

directors Mohammad Iftikhar and Shakeel Anjum and a building inspector Mohammad Fazil.

The officials were accused of abetting the construction of illegal buildings, putting the lives of people at risk.

Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday warned LDA officials, including the authority’s director-general, of suspension if building by-laws were not implemented across the board.

“You take bribe and gratifications and allow violation of building bylaws. Builders are constructing high-rise buildings in connivance with your support and putting the life of citizens in danger,” said Justice Ramday.

He observed that the construction of skyscrapers in the country would put the lives of people at risk without relevant fire-fighting or rescue system to deal with emergencies.

Justice Ramday also hinted towards reports of alleged kidney trade in Masood Hospital, Lahore. He was about to dictate order for the demolition of the hospital but adjourned the hearing of the case till July 5 on the request of defence’s lawyer.

The bench has imposed a general ban on the construction of all buildings having three or more storeys in Lahore. The bench had constituted a three-member commission, comprising Justice Riaz Kiyani (retd), Kamil Mumtaz (architect) and Mr Tahir, a structural engineer, which compiled a report after surveying under-construction buildings in Lahore.

According to the report, a number of buildings had been built in violation of building codes and by-laws of LDA.

In the cases of Ahad Plaza, Salar Centre, Asim Tower, Kalma Tower, Nishat Textile and Garden Towers, the bench issued final notices to owners, asking them to conform with LDA building codes.

They were ordered to submit compliance reports on the next hearing.

The bench directed DG LDA, Hasan Nawaz, to answer why plans of sky scrappers were being approved when building by-laws allowed only 200-foot-high structures.

The bench turned down a request from Advocate-General of Punjab Aftab Iqbal and the director-general of LDA to cut electricity, water and gas connections of all illegal buildings. The bench observed that it was the LDA’s duty to do so.