SHC orders 'immediate demolition' of new concrete structures erected at Frere Hall.

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday ordered "immediate demolition" of recently erected concrete structures at Frere Hall after it emerged that the Karachi administration was purportedly constructing a new gate at the city landmark.

The court was presiding over a civil suit filed by architect and social activist Marvi Mazhar through lawyer and human rights activist Jibran Nasir against new construction at historic heritage sites. The petition said that as per the law, new construction could not be carried out at heritage sites.

The SHC expressed anger at the new erections at Frere Hall and other heritage sites. Issuing a show-cause notice to Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab, the court also suspended his "intrusion" in any heritage building or city site.

The court also ordered the demolition of the under-construction gate at Frere Hall, observing that damaging historic sites and cultural heritage was "intolerable".

On Sunday morning, members of civil society along with representatives of the Institute of Architects, Karachi chapter, had held a protest at Frere Hall Gardens over the construction of the gate and fence on the Abdullah Haroon Road side of the Hall.

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