Former IG corruption case: Sindh High Court seeks progress report from NAB

Chief Justice Sheikh asks why anti-graft watchdog not going after the corrupt

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought on Friday a progress report from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) authorities on an inquiry against former Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali and others for their involvement in alleged illegal appointments in the police department.

Headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, a two-judge bench also clubbed together the bail pleas of the ex-IG, ex-DSP of Malir, Mir Muhammad, and others for a joint hearing. Jamali had approached the court seeking pre-arrest bail, apprehending his arrest by NAB in connection with illegal appointments in the Sindh Reserve Police (SRP).



Taking up the matter on Friday, Justice Sheikh directed the NAB prosecutor to file a report on the progress in the inquiry, mentioning the names of the persons on whose directives such illegal appointments were made. He asked why the anti-graft watchdog was not going after those who were behind the corruption.

The prosecutor replied that Jamali and other senior police officers had been nominated in the inquiry. NAB had already completed investigation and a reference had also been filed with the accountability court concerned, he said.

NAB had nominated eight senior police officers, including Jamali, former finance AIG Fida Hussain and the former Malir DSP in the reference, which is currently pending before the court.



The prosecutor claimed 881 illegal appointments were made on the posts of police constables, computer operators and others in the SRP, Hyderabad through which losses were caused to the national exchequer to the tune of Rs500 million. He added that the reference has been filed against the nominated accused under the charges of misuse of official powers, corruption, nepotism and others.

The prosecutor said that the inquiry against the former IG and other nominated officers over misappropriation of the investigation funds and corruption is still under way.

The bench directed the prosecutor to submit a progress report of the investigation.

Meanwhile, it also asked the officer to tag bail pleas of all accused together for a combined hearing on the next date of hearing on September 15.

Sea land sale

The same bench also summoned the NAB investigation officer, along with details of inquiry against four allottees of the Karachi Port Trust Officers Cooperative Housing Society.



Four allottees, including Amanullah Paracha, Syed Miraj Hasan, Zulfiqar Ali and Deed Muhammad Mohsin, had approached the court against alleged harassment by NAB in connection with an inquiry into sale of reclaimed sea land allegedly at throwaway rates. They had sought bail to avert arrest by NAB.

While hearing their pleas, the Justice Sheikh remarked that it seemed as if everyone makes hay while the sun shines, as the expensive land was being sold at throwaway rates.

The lawyers representing the accused said that their clients were allotted land in 2014 at the rates officially determined by the government.



The judges summoned the NAB investigation officer along with details of the inquiry on September 14. Till then, however, the bench extended interim bail granted to the accused persons.

Surjani Town land scam

Meanwhile, the same bench warned of the cancelation of the interim pre-arrest bail granted to a private builder and other accused for not cooperating with NAB in an inquiry into the alleged illegal sale of state lands in Surjani Town through 'china-cutting'.

The SHC CJ directed the prosecutor to complete the inquiry and submit a progress report against the accused till September 15.



Earlier, the NAB prosecutor filed a report, alleged the builder Athar Ali, Ghulam Haider, Mushtaq Ali and others had illegally encroached and sold precious state lands through china-cutting. It was said that the accused had prepared fake land registration documents through fake entries and sold out the same.

The prosecutor claimed there was ample evidence available against the accused and pleaded to dismiss their bail pleas. He alleged the accused were not cooperating in the inquiry after obtaining bail from the court.