NAB bench to hear bail pleas, says SHC

Cases include alleged corruption of over Rs4 billion in RBOD project

KARACHI:

The Chief Justice of Sindh High Court (SHC) has sent all bail applications to the bench hearing NAB cases in a case related to alleged corruption worth more than Rs4 billion in the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) project.

A two-judge bench, headed by SHC CJ Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh, heard the bail applications of suspects accused of discharging polluted water from Balochistan and Sindh into the sea. The NAB DG and the suspects appeared in court.

The defence counsels said NAB was also taking action against those whose names were not in the cases. The accountability watchdog’s prosecutor argued that the suspects are accused of embezzling Rs4.5 billion in corruption cases.

The CJ remarked that the decision would be taken by the bench hearing NAB cases and forwarded all the bail applications to the same bench.

Closure of major roads

Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought a detailed report on a petition against closure of major roads, including Avari Tower Road.

A two-judge bench, headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh heard the petition filed by the Pasban-e-Pakistan on the closure of important roads. The court was annoyed that the DIG had not submitted a clear reply.

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Expressing his anger at the traffic DIG for not submitting a clear report, the CJ asked what the court should do with the note sheet. “What is the policy regarding closure of major highways? What alternative plan is drawn up for the public when roads are closed?” the court asked.

The court ordered a comprehensive report by November 3.

Qasr-e-Fatima inheritance

The Sindh High Court has ordered making Qasr-e-Fatima a medical and dental college. It was hearing a petition on the inheritance of the properties of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah.

The representative of the culture department informed the court that steps had been taken to protect the building. The court expressed its annoyance over the improper use of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah’s residence.

“The building was given to the provincial government for its care, but an illegal trust was established there,” the court remarked.

The court also sought details of Qasr-e-Fatima’s income during the past 30 years from the culture department. The parties nominated Dr Abdul Bari, Dr Adib Rizvi, Justice (retd) Sarmad Jalal Usmani, Justice (retd) Fahim Siddiqui and Amir Ali of Indus Hospital for the trust.

The parties said that the court would be informed about the consent of the trustees at the next hearing.

The court ordered a list of articles in Qasr-e-Fatima.

The court remarked that the names of all the legal heirs should be inscribed on the plaque which declares the conversion of Qasr-e-Fatima to medical and dental college for girls.

The court adjourned further hearing of the petition till November 1.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2021.