SC orders sale of Nasla Tower land to compensate affected persons

KARACHI: The Supreme Court Karachi Registry has ordered the sale of Nasla Tower land to pay compensation to the affected citizens and investors.

During the hearing, the victims’ lawyer Shahab Sarki informed the court that the builder, Abdul Qadir Teela, has passed away, and compensation had not yet been paid to the victims.

He said that the Supreme Court had ordered paying compensation to 44 victims.

The advocate general told the court that the Karachi commissioner had taken possession of the land, completed the proceedings, and submitted a report.

The victims’ lawyer suggested that a plot of 240 square yards adjacent to Nasla Tower should also be sold to provide a sum to the victims.

Subsequently, the Supreme Court ordered the sale of Nasla Tower land to compensate the allotted victims and also sought details of the deceased builder’s heirs from the Sindhi Muslim Society.

The court also sought a report on the market value of the Nasla Tower plot and a detailed report regarding the plot adjacent to Nasla Tower.

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The court ordered the publication of an advertisement for the sale of Nasla Tower land and issued notices to the Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society (SMCHS).

The Supreme Court remarked that a report on the bids received for the auction should also be presented in court and advised the Nasla Tower victims to contact the official assignee with documentary evidence of ownership.

What is the issue?

It is recalled that the Supreme Court had ordered the demolition of Nasla Tower, located on Karachi’s main Shahrah-e-Faisal, on June 16, 2021.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision, a case was registered against the owner of Nasla Tower, Abdul Qadir, as well as the former chairman of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), 15 officers, and the staff of the Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society for constructing the building by encroaching on the service road.

During the hearing held on June 20 that year, the owner of the tower had claimed that the additional area was allotted by SMCHS through a resolution in 2010 and was included in the total area of the plot, while the Mukhtiarkar reported that SMCHS had illegally increased the size of the plot.

The Supreme Court had ordered the builders of the 15-storey Nasla Tower to refund the money to the registered buyers of residential and commercial units within three months.

During the hearing held on October 25, 2021, the Supreme Court ordered the demolition of the residential building Nasla Tower within a week using ‘controlled explosive material.’

The court had directed the Karachi commissioner to ensure that the explosion did not damage nearby buildings or harm any individuals.

The Supreme Court had ordered the owner of Nasla Tower to refund the money to the victims and directed the Karachi commissioner to ensure the return of funds to the victims.

On November 24 that year, the Supreme Court ordered the Karachi commissioner of to use all the city’s machinery to demolish Nasla Tower after which the demolition work began.

On December 27, 2021, the Supreme Court directed the Karachi commissioner to complete the demolition of Nasla Tower within a week and also instructed the government assignee to attach land to compensate the affected residents.