KARACHI, March 22: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday deferred its final order on the demolition of a commercial building built on a residential plot in Bahadarabad.

A lawyer informed a division bench , comprising, Justices M. Mujibullah Siddiqui and Sain Ali Dino Metlo, that the purchasers of shops and flats in Lakhani Arcade had approached the Supreme Court against the SHC demolition order and obtained a ‘status quo order’ in their favour. The bench asked the lawyer to submit a certified copy of the SC order and adjourned further hearing.

Earlier, Karachi Building Control Authority counsel Shahid Jamil Khan submitted a report saying that the KBCA demolition squad reached the site on March 15 to carry out the SHC demolition order. It was first obstructed by women residents and later by a mixed crowd of over 2,500 people. A police contingent was present but it could not meet the resistance, which turned violent. Tyres were burnt and all access to the unauthorized structure was blocked. Edhi ambulances also reached the site.

A petition against the construction of the commercial complex had been moved by a resident. He said a residential plot meant for a bungalow had been converted into a commercial site in an exclusively residential area in violation of the law and rules.