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KARACHI, Aug 24: The Sindh High Court asked the Karachi Building Control Authority on Tuesday to inform it of the action taken by it against its officials who connived with the builder of an unauthorized structure in the Mithadar area, since demolished by it.
The order for demolition was passed by the court in 1996. The petitioner, a resident of the area, subsequently complained that not only the violative structure had not been razed, but also the builder had been allowed to raise further constructions.
The matter was brought to the notice of the court and the KBCA undertook to comply with its order. As the case came up for hearing on Tuesday, KBCA counsel Shahid Jamil Khan submitted that the building had been demolished as ordered. However, an inquiry against the officials responsible for checking violations in the area was still in progress.
A division bench, comprising Justices Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Maqbool Baqar, allowed his request for more time for compliance with the court's direction and adjourned the hearing to a date in office.
CASE DISMISSED: The bench dismissed a petition moved by a non-governmental organization against illegal construction of 100 shops allegedly built on a plot at M R Quarters, Jinnah Road, in deviation of the master plan.
The allegation was vehemently denied by the KBCA counsel. He said the KBCA had sanctioned additions/alterations to the old ground-plus-first floor building on the plot, which was once owned by the National Press Trust and housed a commercial bank.
There were 39 shops on the ground floor and 24 offices on the first floor. The alterations were allowed without violating the master plan or building regulations.
The court appointed its official assignee to look into the conflicting claims and counter-claims. The assignee inspected the site and submitted his report on Tuesday.
The report confirmed the KBCA claim that the shops and offices had been built in accordance with the approved plan. The petition was dismissed as not maintainable after the assignee's report.
CONFINEMENT: A division bench of the Sindh High Court, comprising Chief Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad and Justice Zawar Hussain Jaffery, on Tuesday disposed of a petition challenging the alleged detention of a former navy officer as infructuous and asked the petitioner to approach the concerned authority for a legal remedy available to her under the law, adds PPI.
Musarrat Hakim, naming Nazar Hussain, chief petty officer of navy in Karsaz as respondent, alleged that her spouse Abdul Hakim, who is also retired Naval officer, was made hostage by the respondent since Aug 9.
When the matter was taken up, the alleged detenue Abdul Hakim, spouse of petitioner, was present in the court. Assistant Judge Advocate General of Navy Shahbaz Ali appeared before the court and denied the allegations by the petitioner. He said neither the alleged detenue was arrested, nor detained. He added that petitioner's spouse was not wanted in any case.
The court observed that in view of contradictory statements, the question regarding alleged confinement could not be decided in the constitutional petition and it requires recording of evidence. Disposing of the petition, the court asked the petitioner to move the concerned authority for a legal remedy provided to her under the law.
