Constitutional Court Refuses to Halt Construction of High-Rise Building in Karachi Housing Dispute

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court has rejected a request to stop the construction of a high-rise building in Karachi’s Gulshan Faisal Cooperative Society during proceedings related to the conversion of commercial land into residential plots.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi heard the case, which concerns allegations that a 2,000-square-yard commercial plot was redesignated as residential land and developed into townhouses.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel argued that a builder had purchased several of the townhouses and subsequently constructed a high-rise building on the site. The lawyer informed the court that nine floors of the building had already been completed and criticized the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), claiming it rarely takes action against builders.

The court also discussed the demolition of the Nasla Tower, a prominent Karachi building that was torn down following court orders over legal violations.

Justice Rizvi remarked that Karachi had previously witnessed a trend of constructing townhouses, which was later replaced by the construction of eight-storey buildings. He added that the latest trend appeared to be converting eight-storey structures into 20-storey buildings.

When the petitioner’s counsel requested an interim injunction to halt construction until the next hearing, the court declined the request.

“Let the building be completed. If it is found to be illegal, it can be demolished. The example of Nasla Tower is before us,” the court observed.

Citing a shortage of time, the bench indicated that the matter would be heard at the Karachi Registry at a later stage. The court subsequently adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period.