KARACHI, June 17: Sindh Ombudsman Asad Ashraf Malik has ordered legal action against the owners/builders and officials involved in unauthorised construction on plot No.163/4, street No-16, ‘E’ Road, Bihar Colony, in Lyari Town.

He also directed the departments concerned and agencies not to issue NOC for such illegal buildings, an official statement issued on Sunday said.

Complainant Javaid Mushtaq had informed the ombudsman that the building was being constructed in violation of the building by-laws. He stated that originally the permission was given for a ground-plus-two structure but the builders were raising a six-storey building on the plot.

He complained that the illegal construction had caused cracks in the structure of the adjacent house (No-163-A). He further complained that the builder had converted the construction site into a commercial unit within the area which was a residential one.

The ombudsman ordered an inquiry into the matter and it transpired in the investigation that unauthorised construction on the plot was being carried out. It was also found that no action was taken against the illegal construction by the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) which indicated involvement of some officials of the provincial or city building control authority.

The ombudsman directed the Sindh Building Control Authority director-general to take severe disciplinary action against its Lyari Town officials during whose period the building was constructed besides taking legal action against the landowner and builder.

He also asked the relevant member of the Board of Revenue to issue directives to the registrar/sub-registrar not to register the lease documents without confirming that the building was lawfully constructed. He also issued necessary directives to power and gas utilities in this regard.

The ombudsman asked for a compliance report of the order within 45 days.—APP