KARACHI: An Anti-Corruption Court in Karachi has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for 18 individuals, including officials from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), a sub-registrar, and a builder, for allegedly facilitating the illegal construction of a seven-storey building in Kharadar in exchange for bribes.
The court, led by Judge Ameenullah Siddiqui, was informed by the investigating officer that the SBCA officials had allowed the construction to exceed its original approval for a three-storey building. The case was initially registered at Kharadar police station under the directives of the Sindh High Court and later transferred to the Anti-Corruption Department for further investigation.
The court reviewed the evidence and approved a challan, naming 19 accused, including 17 SBCA officials, a sub-registrar, and the builder. The judge ordered the immediate arrest of the accused and their production in court.
In a separate case, a special Anti-Terrorism Court expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of key witness SSP Dr. Rizwan in the Naqeebullah murder case. The court was told that Dr. Rizwan was unwell.
Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court’s constitutional bench reserved its verdict on the regularization of over 500 contract employees of Pakistan Steel Mills, raising concerns about the viability of such requests from a defunct institution.
