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Two `negligent' officials arrested

Police have arrested two officials for allegedly failing to check faulty construction at an apartment block that collapsed in the capital during the huge earthquake that hit Pakistan on Oct. 8, a senior official said yesterday.

Seventy-four people were killed and 88 injured at the Margalla Towers, one of the most luxurious high-rise apartments in Islamabad, which caved in when the 7.6-magnitude quake jolted Pakistan.

The quake, centered about 90km to the north of Islamabad, caused huge destruction in northern villagers, but Margalla Towers was the only building that collapsed in the capital.

Islamabad police chief, Sikandar Hayat, said they had arrested two former officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) -- the municipal authority, responsible for approving building plans and monitoring construction -- "for failing to check faulty construction" at the apartment block.

He would not give any more details.

Last week Hayat said that police have launched a criminal investigation into the collapse of the 10-story apartment block and that they would arrest all wrongdoers, whether they were builders, contractors or supervisors.

The Margalla Towers was home to about 600 residents, including expatriates and foreign diplomats.

Council for the building's residents' association say they filed a lawsuit against the builders and the CDA, whom they say were CCC Associates' partners in the project.
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