Ongoing investigation: Former HDA director-general remanded to NAB custody

He is accused of misusing authority in a Hyderabad Development Authority scheme.

HYDERABAD: In a ‘illegal’ land scam concerning allotment of 2,800 acres, a court handed over the former director-general of the Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA) to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a 14-day physical remand.

The ex-DG, Iqbal Memon, who is currently posted as chief town planner in the HDA, and HDA director of planning and development control Abdul Manan Sheikh were arrested on Wednesday night. NAB produced the two in the accountability court of judge Aijaz Khaskheli on Thursday.

NAB has charged them with misusing authority in the HDA City scheme, located in Kohsar Town in Latifabad, Hyderabad. However, Advocate Ishrat Lohar, who represented Memon, argued that the scheme in question does not exist. He claimed that Memon remained the interim DG while work on the scheme was initiated by the incumbent HDA DG Noor Ahmed Laghari.

The court granted, however, the request of NAB's investigating officer Amir Butt who sought their custody for effective investigation of the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2016.