SHC questions NAB on progress made in illegal land allotment cases

Seeks arguments from Durrani's counsel in 1.4-billion corruption case

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought further arguments from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other parties, over a plea filed against the accountability watchdog investigating the illegal allotment of government's land in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, on Tuesday. It also inquired about the progress of the investigation from NAB officials.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh and comprising Justice Omer Sial, heard the plea filed by the former director-general of Karachi Development Authority, Nasir Abbas, and others. During the hearing, Advocate Amir Raza Naqvi argued that the reference filed against Abbas was baseless. Justice Shaikh remarked that a peon has been appointed as the land director.

The court observed that most citizens either shift to Canada or the United States. Own this city and this country, it remarked. The court adjourned the hearing till October 8.

Illegal land allotment

The bench also sought explanation, from the NAB director general (DG), regarding the investigation of the illegal allotment of government's land in Thatta, while hearing a plea filed against the investigation by Javed Ahmed.

The court expressed annoyance when the NAB DG failed to provide a satisfactory answer and asked him to inform the court whatever he knows about the progress of the investigation. Addressing him, Justice Shaikh asked, "Don't you know what's going on?"

Making the observation that neither the NAB DG nor the investigation officers (IOs) knew anything about the investigation, the court ordered the NAB to submit details about the progress of the investigation by October 15.

Corruption case

While hearing another case pertaining to the Rs1.4 billion corruption reference filed against Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, the same bench sought arguments from the accused's counsel by October 10.

During the hearing, NAB officials presented before the court the details of Durrani's 57 assets, including Benami properties and cars, as well as a copy of the reference.  According to the defence lawyer, 28 people, including Durrani's family members, have been nominated in the reference filed by NAB. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2019.