KARACHI: Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) Director-General Nasimul Ghani Sahito has appointed Mushtaq Ibrahim Soomro as Director Admin, placing him on a collision course with Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed had instructed to suspend the officer for being involved in corrupt practices. Earlier in February, the top judge, while hearing a case regarding encroachments and illegal constructions in Karachi, has admonished Soomro and expelled him from the courtroom.
The chief justice had also ordered the removal of then SBCA Director Zafar Ahsan, noting that the department was corrupt and no one would be allowed to exploit citizens. The court had instructed to remove all illegal encroachments and restore the true face of Karachi. Sahito eventually took over but has appointed Soomro to the prominent post in violation of the court’s directives.
Soomro is accused of illegal allotment of the multi-storey ‘Comm3 Residency’ in Clifton area. It has been reported that he defended the allotment during the court’s hearing. The apex court has issued immense displeasure over the officer, expelling him from the courtroom and called for his removal.
The land on which the ‘Comm3 Residency’ has been built belongs to Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) and was once the property of Karachi Port Trust (KPT). It was reclaimed to become part of the Benazir Bhutto Park and later a portion was used to construct the high-rise building. Apart from the SBCA chief, several officials of the Sindh government are involved in Soomro’s appointment.
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