The Accountability Court Hyderabad on Thursday gave last warning to the National Accountability Bureau to file reference in the multi-billion rupees land acquisition scam in M6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project.
During the hearing, NAB prosecutor sought further time, saying two separate investigations of Matiari and Noushehro Feroze districts have been combined.
However, the court warned that the concerned officers of NAB will be issued show-cause if reference is not filed by June 9.
The former deputy commissioner of Matiari district Adnan Rashid and other arrested accused were produced before the judge during the hearing.
The counsel of Aashiq Kaleri sought release of his client, saying his plea bargain worth Rs1.249 billion has been accepted. The court adjourned this matter to next hearing.
The M6 land scam case was unearthed in November in Matiari district where the then deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner and Sindh Bank area manager were arrested in connection with Rs2.3 billion embezzlement and suspicious transaction of funds deposited by National Highway Authority (NHA) for the acquisition of land for the M6 project.
The funds were withdrawn in cash from the bank on the directives of the former AC, who was acting as land acquisition officer (LAO). The funds were withdrawn in cash even without passage of land acquisition award under section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, by the LAO.
In Naushahro Feroze, around Rs2.52 billion were embezzled in the land scam for the disbursement of land acquisition award to landowners for the land to be used for M6 Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway.
Naushahro Feroze DC Tashfeen Alam Khan had fled abroad after the scam was unearthed and he was subsequently suspended by Sindh government.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2023.
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