SC takes exception to performance of SBCA

Karachi: The Supreme Court on Thursday took exception over the performance of Sindh Building Authority and other civic departments and observed that entire structure of the city has been changed due to negligence of SBCA.
Hearing a petition regarding unauthorised construction on evacuee trust property in Lyari’s Moosa Lane, a two-member SC bench headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed inquired of the provincial law officer as to why action is not being taken against people involved in illegal constructions on Evacuee Trust property.
The court observed that SBCA did not take action against illegal constructions due to lack of assistance by the police while police seek assistance from Rangers. The court observed that the state machinery has become ineffective and when institutions do not work properly then Army is called for assistance as an alternate. The Trust’s counsel submitted that additional floors had been raised on ground-plus-one buildings in violation of the law. SBCA counsel submitted that a private builder constructed illegal portions on the evacuee property and sold it. The court ordered arrest of the builder Abdul Karim and directed the provincial law officer to get vacated the evacuee property from the occupants by making payment of compensation to them through the builder within one month.