SBCA officers facing corruption charges going on Hajj

SHC expresses shock, but approves plea to unblock their CNICs

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court on Monday accepted the application to unblock the national identity cards of the officers facing legal and departmental action for preventing the demolition of an illegal building in Lyari.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar inquired from the counsel of Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) that where is this building? And why is it being demolished?

The counsel for SBCA stated that it was an illegally constructed three-storied building in Lyari and was being demolished per court orders.

Justice Salahuddin Panhwar remarked that if it was a rich man's house, would it be torn down like this? The court inquired where do the SBSA officers wanted to go. Counsel for SBCA submitted that the petitioner is a deputy director of SBCA and wants to go for Hajj.

The court expressed surprise and remarked that after taking bribes for allowing illegal construction they are now going for Hajj. Justice Panhwar remarked that these officers do not deserve to perform Hajj. After doing all these things, are they now going to get these sins forgiven?

Nevertheless, the court accepted the plea of the SBCA officers. The court directed NADRA to unblock ID cards of five officers including Deputy Director Imtiaz Shaikh.

The court had ordered to block the national identity cards of the SBCA officers for non-implementation of the orders.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2024.