SBCA told to raze illegal constructions on evacuee trust property in Lyari

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to demolish all unauthorised constructions made on evacuee trust property in the city’s Lyari area and to take action against the people involved.

Hearing a petition regarding unauthorised construction on evacuee trust property in Lyair’s Moosa Lane, a two-member SC bench headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed inquired of the provincial law officer as to why action was not being taken against the people involved in illegal constructions on evacuee trust property.

The trust’s counsel submitted that additional floors had been raised on ground-plus-one buildings in violation of the law. The SBCA lawyer countered that unauthorised constructions had been demolished but were once again raised by the occupants.

He submitted that the new construction shall be demolished after sealing the building and sought time to complete the process. The court directed the SBCA to demolish the illegal construction, take action against those responsible and submit a compliance report.

Zulfikarabad terminal

The Supreme Court has directed the city municipal commissioner to submit the master plan and the rules of operations of the Zulfikarabad Oil Terminal (ZOT).

The apex court was hearing a petition filed by Shugafta Bibi, a resident of Clifton Block-1, who had pleaded with the chief justice of Pakistan to order the shifting of the oil tankers’ terminal from her locality. The woman had initially sent a letter to the CJP, which was later converted it into a constitutional petition.

Years after the petition was taken up by the SC, the Zulfikarabad terminal was formally inaugurated by Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar last week. 

At yesterday’s hearing, the court observed that all facilities were not provided at the terminal and directed the KMC commissioner to ensure the requisite arrangements at the earliest. The court directed the KMC to publish public notices in newspapers and also provide the relevant rules of operations to all stakeholders, including oil tanker operators. 

The SC bench ordered the KMC to submit the master plan and the rules of ZOT at the next hearing.