Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed on Wednesday directed the Karachi commissioner to “immediately” start the demolition of the Nasla Tower and Tejori Heights and report back to him today.

A three-member bench comprising CJ Gulzar, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Qazi Mohammad Amin Ahmed met at the Supreme Court Karachi registry to conduct the proceedings of the Nasla Tower demolition case.

“Go right now and demolish the Nasla Tower. Take all the machinery [with you] and start the demolition of the building. Along with the Nasla Tower, also demolish the Tejori Heights and submit the report today [Wednesday],” CJ Gulzar ordered Karachi commissioner Muhammad Iqbal Memon.

The apex court on October 25 directed Memon to demolish the Nasla Tower, a 15-storey residential building located at the intersection of Sharae Faisal and Shahrah-i-Quaideen, through “controlled blasting” within a week and submit a report.

At the outset of the hearing on Wednesday, the Karachi commissioner appeared in the court. The CJ asked whether the task assigned to him had been completed. To this, Memon replied that he needed the apex court's advice.

Expressing his anger at the commissioner’s response, CJ Gulzar said: “Give the response clearly. Has the building been demolished or not. Do you [Karachi commissioner] intend to go to jail from here?”

Requesting the CJ to hear him out, the commissioner said that he wanted to tell the bench something. To this, Justice Amin said the commissioner would be prosecuted for misconduct. “Do you [Karachi commissioner] know where are you standing right now,” Justice Isa said.

CJ Gulzar said: “You [Karachi commissioner] are constantly committing contempt of court. Is he eligible to be called commissioner? He is an 18-Grade officer, who is saying such things here.”