M6 scam plot thickens as NAB joins probe

ACE recovers Rs1.2m hidden in sofas, cushions of DC House Matyari

KARACHI:

The premier anti-graft body of the country National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has started its own investigations into the mega-scam of misappropriation of National Highway Authority (NHA) funds meant for acquiring land for Sukkur-Hyderabad.

As the ongoing investigations continue to expose corruption in bureaucracy, a team of Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) on Friday conducted search of the DC House Matiari, the official residence of the deputy commissioner of the district.

ACE team recovered over Rs1.2 million stashed in packets of Rs5,000 currency notes.

The sacked deputy commissioner Adnan Rashid, who was until few days ago the top executive of the district, was brought to his official residence in handcuffs like a common criminal is taken to the crime scene.

Under interrogation for illegally withdrawing NHA funds worth more than Rs2 billion for acquisition of land for the Sukkur-Hyderabad M6 Motorway, Rashid had hidden some of the cash in different parts of the DC House.

ACE officials said that they searched different parts of the house on the pointation of the accused and recovered Rs1.2 million in cash stuffed in pillow covers, sofas, and beds. Further action would continue, they added.

Meanwhile, NAB joined investigations after ACE and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). NAB Sukkur director general has sought records of former DC Naushahro Feroze Tashfeen Alam and revenue officials and officers of Nawabshah. TAshfeen Alam had escaped to Dubai when investigations started.

A NAB investigation team has started investigation against the Deputy Commissioner Nawabshah after the DCs of Matyari and Naushahro Feroze.

NAB has also written a letter to Commissioner Sukkur and sought details regarding money embezzled from National Highway Authority (NHA).

It has also sought a copy of the joint survey report from the Sindh government. It has asked how much money was used for acquisition of land for M6? And how much money the DCs of Sukkur and Khairpur received from the NHA.

NAB has also issued notice to DCs Nawabshah and Sukkur for details.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2022.