Nine Zero fire: SBCA orders inspection of dilapidated building

KARACHI: The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has directed the officials to conduct an inspection of the dilapidated building of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) former headquarters, Nine Zero, following the fire incident, ARY News reported on Monday.

The SBCA director-general directed the officials to inspect the two-storey buildings of MQM’s former headquarters on plot numbers R-493 and R-494, Block 8 Nine Zero (90), Azizabad, Federal B Area.

Following SBCA DG orders, an inspection team will visit MQM’s former headquarters Nine Zero to ascertain if the dilapidated structure of the building is suitable for residential purposes or not.

A dangerous fire incident was caused at Nine Zero on September 9.

READ: NINE ZERO TO BE DEMOLISHED IF DECLARED ‘DILAPIDATED’

According to the deputy commission (DC) Central, the SBCA will decide on whether the building was still suitable for residential purposes, otherwise, it will be demolished if the officials declared it ‘dangerous’.

The SBCA notification read, “It has been reported by the Deputy Director, District Central, SBCA, that fire erupted on a residential building, Ground + 1st Floor on subject plot at 2:00 am Friday on 9th September, 2022. The Director General, SBCA, has taken serious view of it.”

The authority directed the officials to visit the building for inspection and submit a report to the SBCA director at the earliest.

The cause of the fire incident at MQM’s sealed headquarters in the Azizabad area of Karachi on late Thursday night was ascertained by the authorities. According to the initial probe, the cause of the blaze was short-circuit at the Nine Zero.

The firefighting officials said that the said building was closed for a long time and a Rangers personnel was also injured in the blaze.

MQM Bahali Committee chief Dr Farooq Sattar expressed suspicions over the Nine Zero blaze and said that the gas and power connections of the building were disconnected for almost four years. He said that the fire incident was no less than a mystery for everyone.

Sattar demanded the authorities conduct an investigation to ascertain the facts.