SHC seeks details of 'corrupt' government officials

Office-bearers allegedly involved in cases of corruption worth billions are enjoying postings, observes chief justice

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed on Friday the provincial advocate-general to submit a list of all the government officials were facing corruption inquiries in the province.

A two-judge bench, headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, told the top provincial law officer to furnish such details immediately.

The direction came during the hearing of a petition filed by Shahzad Riaz against his alleged implication in cases related to corruption worth Rs1.45 billion by the provincial anti-corruption department.



During the hearing, Naushero Feroz excise and taxation officer, Azhar Sheikh, filed a report regarding the alleged involvement of Riaz in corruption in the government tractor scheme.

Advocate-General Barrister Zamir Ghumro made a request on behalf of the provincial government, asking the court to order the freezing of Riaz's bank accounts. He argued that the accused could escape abroad after withdrawing the amount from his account. Therefore, he pleaded that a direction may be issued to the authorities concerned to freeze Riaz's bank accounts.

The provincial anti-corruption department officials said Riaz had obtained tractors from the government at subsidised rates, but later sold them in the market.



In his petition, Riaz alleged that the Sindh government had made a case against him just to victimise him at the behest of businessman Anwar Majeed. Majeed is believed to be a close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari.

He further alleged that businessmen Majeed and Khawaja Salman had influenced the anti-corruption department to implicate him in false cases just to oust him from business.

The petitioner argued that the National Accountability Bureau had cleared him of the allegations in the tractor scheme, but the anti-corruption department had falsely implicated him.



Riaz alleged that he was being pressured to leave the business for the benefit of Majeed and Salman.

The bench members inquired from the Naushero Feroz excise and taxation officer on whose directions the case was registered against the petitioner.

The officer replied that the case was registered on the directives of the 'higher authority'. The judges directed the officer to submit his personal affidavit along with details disclosing the name of the 'higher authority'.

During the hearing, the judges inquired from the provincial home secretary as to how many corruption cases were registered against him.

The secretary said that he was facing trial in one case related to corruption.



CJ Sheikh observed that the government officials, who were allegedly involved in cases of corruption involving billions of rupees, were enjoying postings.

Therefore, the bench directed the Sindh AG to submit a report, mentioning how many senior government officials were nominated in corruption-related cases and the details of those cases. The law officer was directed to furnish such details.