KARACHI, Oct 1: The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and the Karachi Building Control Authority are two entirely different and separate organizations, contended counsel for the KBCA before a division bench of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday.

The bench, comprising justices Sabihuddin Ahmed and S. Ali Aslam Jafri, was hearing a constitutional petition filed by one, Abdul Karim, against the owners of Al-Rehman Square, Khadda, Lyari.

The case pertained to the SHC’s order on the demolition of extra floors illegally raised on a plot and also sought a compliance report. The KBCA executed the order and demolished parts of the building. In the meantime, the owners of the plot taking advantage of the new policy, applied for regularization.

When this fact was stated before the bench, counsel for the respondent opposed the application and said that the KBCA needed cooperation from other agencies.

The KBCA’s counsel submitted that the CDGK had been established under Section 8 of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance-2001 whereas the KBCA under Section 4 of the Sindh Building Control Ordinance-1979.

He referred to the compliance report stating that before promulgation of the SLGO, the KBCA at times got required assistance of police, magisterial and other officials. But now, he added, despite all efforts, no cooperation was being extended to it from any side that could enable it to discharge its duties and functions under the relevant laws.

The EDO (Law) of CDGK, Manzoor Ahmed, and AAG Sindh appearing for the state, sought time to submit reply to the second compliance report. The bench put off the matter till Oct 8.

COMMUTED: An Appellate Bench of the Sindh High Court comprising justices Wahid Bux Brohi and Rehmat Hussain Jafri on Wednesday converted death sentence awarded to a killer to life imprisonment.