Unsafe construction woes persist in Karachi’s Lyari, where a four-storey building narrowly escaped catastrophe after its staircase abruptly collapsed.

Cracks also appeared across the walls and pillars shifted, forcing frightened residents to evacuate the premises in haste, in building near Badar colony.

Despite its deteriorating state, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) had not yet declared the building hazardous. Erected in 2000 on a 60-square-yard plot, the structure housed two flats per floor, with a family residing on the rooftop.

In response to the latest incident, SBCA teams quickly arrived and began a detailed inspection.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the recent Baghdadi building collapse tragedy, police and law enforcement agencies raided the SBCA office.

According to sources, 12 officials were called in under the guise of a meeting and taken into custody after verification.

Among those detained were Additional Director General Ashfaq Khokhar, retired Director Asif Rizvi, and several officers from the Lyari Division and South Zone. Sources say further arrests are likely.

Separately, details of the FIR registered over the Baghdadi collapse have come to light.

The report states that two illegal five-storey buildings had been constructed on a 527-square-yard plot, comprising 20 flats. The collapse claimed 27 lives and left four people critically injured.

The tragedy has ignited outrage among civil society and affected families, who are staging protests demanding strict accountability and severe punishment for all those responsible.