'Even graveyards and footpaths have been sold in Pakistan'

Accused are involved in the illegal allotment of 25 acres of land, according to NAB

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Shaikh remarked on Thursday that some people have played havoc with this country and there is a policy to ''sell everything''.

Justice Shaikh gave these remarks while hearing a case pertaining to fraud with citizens in the name of a cooperative society.

National Accountability Bureau Operations Director-General (DG) (NAB) Tahir Shah and the bureau's additional prosecutor-general appeared for the hearing on the court's orders.

During the hearing, CJ Shaikh asked when the Joint Investigation Team's (JIT) probe into the fake accounts case would end. ''Many Investigation Officers (IO) have been assigned to the JIT," he remarked. "Every time, the IOs' response is that they are busy with the JIT,'' he added.

The NAB DG said that some officials were given more cases, but the bureau was now trying to ensure that no inquiries remained pending. He added that Abdul Salam Mendhro, who is wanted in the NAB inquiry, was not cooperating. The counsel for the accused submitted to the court that the NAB had frozen the bank accounts of many people without any reason.

At this, the chief justice remarked that people have played havoc with the country. ''Even graveyards and footpaths have also been sold,'' he remarked.

The court directed the NAB to complete the inquiry against Abdul Salam and other accused by September 25, when the next hearing would take place.

According to the NAB, accused Abdur Rehman Mendhro and his son Abdul Salam Mendhro allotted 25 acres of land illegally. Abdul Salam Mendhro is also involved in china cutting of four acres of land in addition to the illegal allotment.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2019.