SHC grants IO time in corruption inquiry against former Thatta SP

NAB alleges accused misused their authority

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) gave an extension on Tuesday to the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) investigation officer (IO) to complete the corruption inquiry against Ghulam Mustafa Lund and former Thatta SP Muhammad Ali Wassan.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Shamsuddin Abbasi heard the case.

Lund and Wassan appeared before the court. The bench inquired where their counsels were.

The accused said that their counsels were not present in the court.

The NAB IO said that the inquiry against the accused was still under way and more time was needed for its completion. He added that the court would be informed about the investigation when it is completed.

The court granted the NAB IO an extension till August 19 directing him to file the reference against the accused once the inquiry is complete.

According to NAB, the accused misused their authority.

Evidence not found

The same bench adjourned the hearing of a plea filed by the national watchdog's IO in an inquiry against Karachi Development Authority's (KDA) Officers Cooperative Housing Society former administrator Syed Intezar Ahmed Jafri.

Jafri and his counsel appeared before the court.

The NAB IO said that the inquiry against the accused has been completed and no evidence against the accused was found. He told the court that the NAB chairperson has been notified about closing the inquiry and the court will be informed when his reply is received.

The court adjourned the hearing on the IO's plea till August 19. Jafri was accused of illegally allotting land in the KDA housing society.

Murder case

Meanwhile, another two-member bench comprising Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto and Justice Irshad Ali Shah sought replies from the Sindh home secretary, Karachi additional inspector-general (AIGP), East DIG and other relevant officials by July 24 while hearing the case of a citizen's murder.

The bench heard the petition filed by Muzzamil Mumtaz pertaining to the murder of his son, Ali Hassan, allegedly by a gutka manufacturer.

The petitioner stated before the court that his son was killed by a gutka manufacturer who has the support of some police officials.

He maintained that Hassan was picked up by the gutka manufacturer on March 27, 2019 and on March 30, Hassan's body was found in a car in the limits of Sharae Faisal Police Station.

According to Mumtaz, the Sharae Faisal SHO delayed the postmortem of the deceased after a day and the police took money for the postmortem.

He maintained that the alleged murderer had the support of certain police officials and requested that the East Investigation SSP and others be removed from the case.

The investigation should be carried out by the Central Investigation Agency, he prayed before the court.

The court sought replies from the relevant authorities and adjourned the hearing till July 15.

*With additional input from PPI

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2019.