KARACHI: Squash legend Jahangir Khan has informed the Sindh Building Control Authority that parts of his squash complex constructed in violation of rules are being demolished and the work in this regard will finish soon.

The SBCA twice directed Mr Khan to demolish the illegal construction at his squash complex on Kashmir Road.

In his Nov 26 communication to the SBCA, Mr Khan said: “It is stated that the removal of portion which exceeds the allowable height limit i.e 42.25 feet is under process. The roof has been completely demolished and beam cutting is under process, side walls will also be demolished accordingly.”

The squash hero also informed the SBCA that since the structure was heavily built and technically the demolition process might take extra time to prevent damage to the existing structure. He hoped that the process would be completed within the stipulated time, and he would inform the SBCA if extra time was needed.

The player was sacked by his employer — the Pakistan International Airlines — and he moved the court which ordered reinstatement of his services. But instead of getting his job back, he obtained the PIA Squash Complex, which was named after him. He razed the complex and constructed a new building located within the restricted zone of the Mazar-i-Quaid where a law relating to the sanctity of the mausoleum of the Father of the Nation restricts that the height of any building should not be above its podium level.

However, the new squash complex building was constructed in violation of the law and when the media highlighted the issue the Quaid-i-Azam Mazar Management Board (QMMB) took up the matter with the SBCA, which sealed the complex. The building was later unsealed by the SBCA after a court case was dismissed.

The QMMB again wrote to the SBCA to demolish the illegal structure and subsequently the SBCA wrote to Mr Khan asking him to demolish the illegal construction by Oct 30. But nothing happened and then on Nov 12, QMMB official Mohammad Arif once again wrote to the SBCA informing it that rather than demolishing the illegal structure new construction had been carried out and that the SBCA should ensure the implementation of the law and get the illegal structure demolished.

Subsequently, the SBCA on Nov 25 wrote to Mr Khan “directing him once again” to demolish the illegal structure within 15 days and in case of failure “the authority shall take necessary demolition action under Section 7 A of the Sindh Building Control Ordinance 1979”.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2014