📰 EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION: SBCA WARNED OF COLLAPSE, BUT AUTHORITIES FAILED TO ACT

Negligence or Criminal Complicity? Letters Reveal SBCA Had Warned About Lyari Building—Ignored by Police, K-Electric, and District Administration

By Special Investigations Unit
Karachi – July 5, 2025

As Karachi mourns the tragic loss of lives in the Lyari building collapse, shocking documents uncovered by our investigation team reveal that the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) had issued clear, official warnings to multiple departments over a year prior—yet no action was taken.

The document, dated 25 June 2024, categorically instructed K-Electric, KW&SB, and SSGC to disconnect all utility services to the now-collapsed building, as it had been declared “DANGEROUS” by the Technical Committee for Dangerous Buildings (SBCA).

🔍 Who Received the Warnings?
• Managing Director, K-Electric
• Managing Director, KW&SB
• Managing Director, SSGC
• Assistant Commissioner (South)
• District South Police
• Relevant departments under the Local Government

Despite these letters being marked as “URGENT” and officially stamped as received by the above entities, no utility disconnections were made, and no evacuation was enforced.

⚠️ What the Letter Said

“All functionaries shall disconnect all the utility services or connections of the said illegally constructed building… on the written request of the SBCA immediately.”

The letter even cited Sindh Gazette notifications and legal provisions under the SBCO 1979, reinforcing the urgency of immediate disconnection and enforcement.

🛑 Pattern of Ignorance

Multiple residents and witnesses confirmed that despite repeated notices, no meaningful action was taken by law enforcement or the district administration. Water, gas, and electricity continued to be supplied right up to the moment of the collapse.

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💬 Public Reaction

“This is not just administrative failure. This is negligent homicide. These people ignored legal warnings, and now entire families are dead,” said a local activist.

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🧾 Who Is Really Responsible?

While SBCA has come under fire in past building collapse cases, this document clearly absolves them of direct negligence. It shifts the accountability squarely on those who ignored formal disconnection and evacuation orders—including police, assistant commissioners, and utility providers.

👁️‍🗨️ What Now?

Legal experts suggest that under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code, those officials and departments who failed to act may be liable for manslaughter charges.

The families of victims are calling for a judicial commission to hold every party accountable.

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📌 Bottom Line

This wasn’t just a building collapse. This was a collapse of governance, responsibility, and humanity.

Our newsroom will continue exposing the truth.