Land scam: NAB arrests former land utilisation secretary in Karachi

Ghulam Mustafa Phul arrest over charges of illegal conversion of industrial land to a residential-purpose land

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) claimed to have apprehended on Tuesday a former secretary over charges of illegal conversion of industrial land to a residential-purpose land.

According to the NAB Karachi spokesperson, former land utilisation department secretary Ghulam Mustafa Phul's bail was cancelled, along with two other suspects, Abu Bakar Dawood and Abdul Aziz Dawood. However, Phul had escaped the premises of the high court on May 31.

The NAB spokesperson said the suspects were wanted in a reference under trial in an accountability court, which was filed on charges of illegal conversion of 70 acres of industrial land for residential or commercial purposes in Deh Phihai in Korangi. He added that Phul had illegally approved the land conversion in 2011 in his capacity as the land utilisation secretary in violation of the law.

The suspect will be produced before an accountability court tomorrow (Thursday) for judicial remand, the spokesperson said.