Karach Property News : Ombudsman for strict action against illegal construction


KARACHI: The Sindh Ombudsman Asad Ashraf Malik on Sunday directed legal action to be taken against officers, owner as well as the builder involved in unauthorised construction, allegedly being raised on plot No 163/4, Street No 16, ‘E’ Road, Bihar Colony of Lyari Town, Karachi.

He also directed the concerned departments and agencies not to issue a no objection certificate for such illegal buildings.

A man, Javaid Mushtaq had complained before the Sindh Ombudsman of a building being constructed on a plot in Lyari Town in violation of the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) by-laws. He stated that the original permission was given for ground +2 floors however the builder was constructing six floors on the said plot. He also complained that the adjacent house No 163-A had developed a crack due to illegal construction and the builder converted the Plot No 163/4, Street No 16, ‘E’ Road Bihar Colony into a commercial place.

Provincial Ombudsman ordered for an inquiry and after thorough probe and investigation it was found that the building comprising ground +6 is being constructed illegally but no action was taken against this illegal construction by KBCA which proved the involvement of officials of KBCA/SBCA as despite several intimations. All this showed that the official of Lyari Town, SBCA was involved in corrupt practices and maladmistrating, resulting into unauthorised construction of buildings, creating multifarious problems for the citizens.

Malik in his decision directed DG. SBCA to take severe disciplinary action against the officials of Lyari Town, SBCA during whose period the building was constructed and also to take legal action against the landowner and the builder for raising illegal construction. He also asked the Member (RS&EP), Board of Revenue to issue directives to Registrar/Sub-registrar not to register lease documents without confirming that the building was lawfully constructed; besides the Ombudsman also asked the MD Sui-Southern Gas Company, and MD KESC to issue instructions to the concerned departments not to provide gas/electricity to the buildings which were constructed without authorisation. They should seek clearance and confirmation from the SBCA in respect of multi-storey buildings. The provincial Ombudsman has asked for a compliance report to be produced within 45 days.