Industrialist gets bail in Rs2b coal scam

In November 2022, a NAB court sentenced Gohar to seven years imprisonment and a fine of Rs50m for illegal sale of coal


Our Correspondent March 22, 2023
Beijing also vowed in the Paris meeting that it would contribute to the efforts aimed at reducing global warming and would shift most of the coal power plants to developing countries. PHOTO: REUTERS

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KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday suspended the sentence of a business tycoon of Hyderabad, Gohar Ullah, in a coal corruption reference of over Rs2 billion and granted him bail.

An SHC bench heard the bail petition of Gohar Ullah, the former president of Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce (HCCI). The court granted Gohar bail against surety of Rs1 million.

In November 2022, a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court had sentenced Gohar to seven years imprisonment and a fine of Rs50 million for illegal sale of coal.

The Fateh Group was awarded a contract to build a 200 megawatt power plant powered by coal.

Although the plant was never established, the company allegedly began to mine between 800 and 1,000 tons of coal every day and sold it in the market. The mines and minerals department efforts to rectify the situation were stalled by Gohar, allegedly through political influence.

Subsequently last November, Gohar and five others were convicted for selling coal meant for use as fuel for the power generation in the open market for more than a decade. However, the SHC bench accepting Gohar's plea suspended the sentence and granted him bail.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2023.

COMMENTS (1)

Fateh Shah Arif | 1 year ago | Reply It was very important project not only for mining community but also for the facilitation of local reading community in mining areas. It was only hope that this project will jot only fulfil the energy requirements of mining areas but also attract investors for investment in area through establishment of different factories in areas to create more livelihood opportunities for local people. The entire amount may recover and the same proposal may execute which will change the economic conditions of the areas.
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