December 31, 2008	Wednesday	Muharram 02,1430

HYDERABAD, Dec 30: Sunni Tehrik leader Khalid Qadri has demanded of the authorities to order an inquiry into the ongoing construction of residential plazas and their approved maps in the wake of loss of lives in Sukkur as a result of collapse of a plaza.

At a press conference here on Tuesday, he said that on Dec 24 a five-storeyed building Sajjad Plaza collapsed which was built just four months back, killing eight people and injuring 17 others. He said that injured also included three Sunni Tehrik workers.

He stated that an FIR had been registered with the B-section police vide crime no 205/08 but despite lapse of 100 hours the builders and the concerned officials could not be arrested.

He warned that his party would not let the government to put the matter into shelves by constituting committees and said that the matter would be taken to a court of law.

He claimed that situation in Hyderabad is no different as building plans are being approved and sub-standard material is used through payment of heavy bribes and the concerned institutions remained silent spectators. He said that it appeared as if corrupt officials just wait for a tragedy before they wake-up.

He alleged that Anti-corruption and Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA), provincial local bodies minister and chief minister had been informed against three projects of Salman builders in Latifabad for use of substandard material in violation of HDA’s rules. He said that since March 26,2008 no action had been taken in the matter which is reflective of government department’s incompetence.

He stated that director anti-corruption-II was informed on November 5 through a statement but nothing transpired. He said that above-mentioned three plazas had no parking space whereas Manzoor Palace, which is adjacent to Apwa school, a ground plus five storey building is being built on 150 square yards area. He alleged that sub-standard material was being used in its construction and it could lead to a tragic incident.

He added that Salman Plaza was built on 225 square yards where parking space has been converted into shops and mezzanine floor has been used for flats instead of offices. He said that in these areas construction of ground plus five storey buildings was being carried out. He said that as far as charge of sub-standard material in Salman Builders’ project is concerned their another project off Auto Bhan road was built and its roof had caved in, causing injuries to labourers.

He appealed to the authorities to insure arrest of builders of Sajjad plaza, and that construction of all plazas in Sukkur was made in accordance with relevent laws.

He said that those builders who were violating approved building plans should also be taken to task.

Likewise, he said, all approved plans of plazas in Hyderabad should be checked and officers should be punished for irregularities to avoid further loss of lives. He demanded demolition of Manzoor and Salman Palaces. He said that parking space should be made compulsory in projects of Hyderabad.