KARACHI, Jan 15: The Sindh High Court on Monday asked the Karachi Building Control Authority to explain how a builder and developer was allowed to raise four floors over and above the sanctioned plan and occupy the compulsory open space in violation of the law on a Clifton plot.

M/s Merchant Builders claimed in response to a petition moved by Shehri (Citizens for Better Environment) that they were initially sanctioned six floors for their project, Greenbelt Residency, but were subsequently allowed to raise another four floors.

The court first ordered inspection and when the violations were confirmed by its nazir, the KBCA was directed to demolish the illegal structure with police assistance.

Meanwhile, a purchaser of 13 shops on the ground floor moved an application to join in the proceedings as an intervener.

His counsel, Advocate Abdul Qayyum Abbasi, submitted that the builder had also sold out the basement of the complex, which was reserved for car parking.

A division bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Munib Ahmed Khan allowed the purchaser’s application and adjourned further proceedings to January 22 for a detailed reply by the KBCA.

PPI adds: A Sindh High Court division bench on Monday adjourned to January 22 the hearing of a bail confirmation application filed by a former provincial minister, Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, and five others in a kidnapping for ransom case.

The court had ordered release of Imtiaz Shaikh, Agha Asghar, Nasir Mehmood, Mehfooz, Mohammad Ashfaq and Mohammad Zaman on interim bail in 2005.

They are accused of kidnapping one, Mohammad Iqbal, in Qayyumabad area on June 28, 2003 and demanding Rs1.5 million for his release.

Only Imtiaz Shaikh, among the accused was present in the court and their counsel told the court that the absent ones had met with an accident at Hala while they were on their way to Karachi.

The division bench comprised Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery and Justice Munib Ahmed Khan.