Police arrest HDA deputy director

Waseem Khan was among officials who approved plan of illegal building

HYDERABAD/KARACHI:

As the law tightens noose around the government officials allegedly involved in approving the construction of Nasla Tower, police hauled away a senior officer of Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA) on Wednesday.

HDA Deputy Director Accounts Waseem Khan has been arrested from Hyderabad by Karachi police, officers of the GOR police station confirmed when contacted by The Express Tribune.

They said that a squad of Karachi's Ferozabad police station led by inspector Ahsaan Channa came to Hyderabad and made the mandatory entry at the precinct concerned, the GOR police station.

Subsequently, GOR police arrested Waseem and handed him over to Ferozabad police.

Waseem was earlier posted as Deputy Director in the Master Plan Department in Karachi. He has been found involved in approving the layout plan of the Nasla Tower which was constructed by illegally occupying a portion of service lane in the Sindhi Muslim Cooperative .

All the owners of the building lost their savings, as the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the demolition of the illegally constructed building while legal action was initiated against officers involved in approving it in the first place.

The GOR police of Hyderabad picked up Khan and later handed him over to the Karachi police.

Waseem was reportedly brought to Hyderabad as a team member of director general HDA Muhammad Sohail, who was posted in September, 2021. Rizwan Ahmed, another official considered as a team member of Sohail, is posted as director land management.

The postings of both the officials from Karachi to HDA have caused dismay among the local officials who blame the DG for denying them their due positions.

Meanwhile, East Judicial Magistrate handed over Naveed Bashir, former honorary secretary of Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society (SMCH), to police on physical remand in Nasla Tower case.

A hearing in the Nasla Tower case was held before the East Judicial Magistrate in the Karachi City Court. Police produced Naveed Bashir, a former honorary secretary of the Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Society, in court.

The investigation officer said that the service road was encroached upon with the connivance of society and other institutions. There is a likelihood of getting important disclosures and documents from accused Naveed Bashir. The IO requested that the accused may be remanded for interrogation.

The East Judicial Magistrate handed over the accused to the police on physical remand till January 21. The court also directed the IO to submit a progress report at the next hearing.

Demolition of illegal
portions

The Sindh High Court directed Korangi deputy commissioner, SSP and other agencies to cooperate in demolition of illegal portions in PNT Housing Society and directed the SBCA to submit a report on the demolition within a month. A two-member bench headed by Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi heard the petition.

Petitioner’s counsel contended that 90 square yards plots were created illegally on a land measuring 600 square yards. Two floors were constructed on each plot. The third floor was also partially built.

The court while addressing the SBCA’s deputy director remarked, “Do you go to sleep when illegal activities take place?”

Justice Rizvi remarked that now the entire state missionary would have to be involved for demolition. “Now that you have come to the court, you do not even have the file of the plot. What have you come to do here?” Justice Rizvi said admonishing the SBCA officals.

The SBCA deputy director said that letters have been issued to the police, district administration and utility agencies for demolition. Assistance of the lady police is also needed due to accommodation in portions.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2022.