KARACHI, Dec 5: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday gave a builder one month’s time to obtain an NOC from the city government and approval from the KBCA to avoid demolition of his warehouse complex over a four-acre plot in Keamari.

Builder Mohammad Hanif instituted a suit in the SHC for permanent injunction against the KBCA and obtained an interim stay.

In its rejoinder, however, the authority informed the court through Advocate Shahid Jamil Khan that the plot (No1, K-28, Phase II, Trans Lyari-Hawkesbay Road, Keamari) was leased out in violation of law and rules by a former chief minister. No plan in respect of it has been sanctioned. In view of violations and absence of an NOC from city government and a duly sanctioned plan by KBCA, demolition was the only option.

The plaintiff builder submitted that he and a number of his partners would be ruined if the complex was razed. Goods worth tens of millions of rupees were lying in the godowns and they were under contractual obligation to keep them in safe custody.

Justice Munib Ahmed Khan, who heard the suit, gave the builder one month to meet all the requirements and ordered action against a former Keamari town building control officer, who allowed the illegal construction to come up.