LEAs told to assist KDA in action against land grabbers

SHC gives Sindh govt three weeks to submit reply on plea challenging the appointment of CM aides, advisers

The Sindh High Court directed the Sindh Rangers and police on Thursday to provide assistance to the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) for a large-scale operation against land grabbers and those involved in China cutting in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

During the hearing of a plea pertaining to land grabbing and China cutting - a term that refers to the slicing of plots from parks and land earmarked for public amenities, and turning them into residential and commercial properties to be sold off for a huge profit - in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, the counsel for the petitioner accused Karachi Metropolitan Corporation officials and KDA officials of patronising elements involvement in the illegal occupation of land.

"And so, they continue to occupy lands despite court orders [to end the occupation]," he said.

In his defence, the KDA director told the court that whenever his department had attempted to take action against the nefarious elements, they had been attacked.

The court, however, directed the KDA to launch a large-scale operation to end the illegal occupation of lands in Gulistan-e-Johar and raze encroachments in the area, as directed by the Supreme Court (SC). Then, directing the Rangers director general (DG) and East District DIG to cooperate with the KDA for the purpose, it remarked, "SC orders should be carried out in letter and spirit."

Ordering the Rangers and police to provide assistance to the KDA for the operation, the court adjourned the hearing until February 16.

Appointment of CM aides, advisers

At another hearing, a two-member bench of the SHC, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Arshad Hussain Khan, gave three weeks to the Sindh government to submit a reply on a plea pertaining to the appointment of special assistants and advisers, including Murtaza Wahab, to the Sindh chief minister.

The court gave the three-week deadline to the provincial government after the additional advocate general insisted that a reply be submitted on the plea by the next hearing.

According to the plea, advisers and special assistants to the Sindh CM have been attending the cabinet meetings, which is illegal.

Deeming that CM aides attending the meetings was in violation of Articles 6 and 7 of the Sindh Government Rules of Business, 1986, Articles 130 and 132 of the Constitution and the Official Secrets Act, 1923, it moves the court to declare the appoints special assistants and advisers to the CM unconstitutional.

The plea further states that advisers and special assistants to the CM are using powers meant for elected representatives while also managing portfolios and drawing emoluments meant for ministers.

Resultantly, a loss of billion is caused to the national exchequer, it contends, pleading to the court to take back all government-provided perks, including government vehicles, from them.

Assets beyond means case

Meanwhile, a bench headed by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Sukkur to complete the inquiry initiated against former provincial law minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar on accusation of owning assets beyond known sources of income.

At the hearing of the bail pleas of Lanjar and others accused in the case, the NAB investigation officer (IO) told the court that the inquiry against the former law minister had been completed and sent to the NAB headquarters for approval.

However, an objection was raised on the inquiry when it was revealed that Lanjar owned properties besides those included in the probe, the IO said, adding that the anti-graft watchdog was currently carrying out an inquiry in connection with 260 acres of land owned by Lanjar.

Irked at the delay in the completion of the inquiry, the court remarked, "It has been long [since the probe was launched] and yet, the inquiry hasn't been completed."

At this, the IO requested the court to give the NAB another four weeks to complete the inquiry.

Directing the NAB, Sukkur to soon complete the inquiry, the court extended the interim bail of Lanjar and adjourned the hearing until February 3.

Illegal allotment of land

Separately, the NAB prosecutor informed the court that the inquiry against provincial minister Sohail Anwar Siyal and others accused of corruption and the illegal allotment of land had been completed.

At the hearing of the accused's bail pleas, the prosecutor said the inquiry had been referred to the NAB headquarters for approval and after the approval, its status would be changed to investigation.

The court sought a progress report on the matter from the NAB and extended the bails of the accused Sohail, Zafar Siyal and Jameel Soomro, adjourning the hearing until February 10.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2020.