KARACHI, March 15: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Friday ordered the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) to demolish a building in Block 5, Kehkashan, Clifton, because it has been constructed in contravention to the approved plan.

The bench, comprising Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Ali Aslam Jaferi, passed the order while allowing a constitutional petition of Shaikh Tariq Anwar and Mashkoor Alam against the KBCA chief controller and Mrs Mariam.

The petitioners’ counsel, Mohammad Nawaz Shaikh advocate, contended that the building had been constructed in the midst of residential bungalows and the builder had not left the five feet portion vacant on the front side. Rather three more storeys have been constructed there, he added.

He argued that the KBCA was in full knowledge of the illegal construction and its officials had kept silence. Nazir of the court had also reported that Mrs Mariam had violated the approved plan.

The court directed the KBCA to immediately demolish the building.

GOLDEN HANDSHAKE: Another division bench, comprising Justice Ataur Rahman and Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, ordered that while executing golden handshake, the amount deducted on account of income tax from the employees should not be paid to the concerned department.

The bench held this in the constitutional petition filed by Abdullah Khan and others of the National Bank of Pakistan.

Arguing the case of the employees, Islam Hussain advocate contended that the High Court had already passed a similar order and observed that the amount deducted from the retiring employees under the scheme should be invested in the most profitable government security, so that whosoever is paid, gets it with profit. He also claimed that the Supreme Court had also directed that such amount should not be paid to the concerned department.

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...