HYDERABAD, Dec 18: The Sindh High Court here on Wednesday issued notices to officials and private respondents on a constitutional petition, seeking inquiry into the collapse of the Arain Building resulting in the death of 25 persons in June, 1996.

The petition was filed by Noor Mohammad through Ghiasuddin Mirza, advocate. The petitioner has cited Aziz Mian, Zulfikar Chohan, Mohammad Haroon, Syed Khadim Hussain Shah and official respondents, including the then commissioner, Hyderabad, deputy commissioner and the SDM, City, Hyderabad.

The petitioner had claimed that private respondents had dug the ground near the building for drainage purposes and official respondents had allowed it without any approval and sanction, leading to the collapse of the Arain Building on June 6, 1996.

He said that the then chief minister of Sindh had visited the site and had ordered registration of the FIR against the persons responsible for the tragedy.

He said that despite several representations by the petitioner, no progress had been made though people were rendered homeless.

He said that it appeared that the accused were released by the police as the challan was submitted as “B” class and some vested interests had claimed that a compromise was struck between the people responsible for the incident and the families of the deceased.

He also submitted that his sisters, brothers, their daughters and sons were among the dead, adding that he had approached the then concerned magistrate, who had ordered an inquiry but to no avail.

The petitioner stated that police officers were bound to register his case and investigate it properly. He said that he has contacted several government officials but no one was paying any heed regarding registration of his FIR.

He claimed that the delay in filing his petition was because he was an illiterate person and had previously approached the courts without any written applications.

He requested the court to order an inquiry into the matter and registration of an FIR at the Market police station on the basis of the application submitted by the petitioner.