RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Saturday requested Supreme Court (SC) to constitute a committee for an audit of the last four decades to ascertain the legality of those buildings now been identified as illegally constructed buildings.

“Manzoor Kaka, former head of Sindh Building Control Authority who is also wanted in NAB case should be interrogated to find out who are responsible for illegal constructions,” MQM-P convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said, addressing a press conference, here.

Siddiqui who is also Federal Minister for Information Technology believes that the audit/probe of the buildings will unveil big names. To him it is necessary to probe the matter to know about the status of buildings, which have been termed illegally constructed after SC ruled against the construction of commercial buildings on the land, reserved for residential units.

MQM leader said the party respects the orders of the apex court. However, he demanded investigation how SCBA allowed construction of these buildings. He also accused the officials of SCBA who came from interior parts of province for all this mess.

“The occupants should not be expelled from these buildings until they are given alternate places,” he urged, asking the Sindh government to provide the alternate places to them.

Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar requested SC to review its decision in the larger interest of citizens. He said if 525 katchi abadis can be regularised then why not these buildings.

Dr Khalid said that Mayor would announce to resign if the residential units were demolished. He said the people who had built such buildings would go unpunished whereas occupants would suffer losses because they had paid hefty amount for these buildings.

MQM-P convener also requested SC to pay attention to Goth Abad Scheme, under which lands are planned to be sold and said that nobody would be held responsible for selling the lands in Hawkesbay.

The MQM’s convenor commented on the call for restoration of Karachi to its 4-decades old shape, saying that some people also want to push Karachi forty years back, politically.