An Accountability Court in Karachi has ordered National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to present all documents in the reference against alleged allocation of government land in Clifton by MQM leader Syed Mustafa Kamal and others.
During the hearing of the reference on Saturday, Mustafa Kamal and other accused appeared in court.
The court inquired whether NAB had filed a request to restore the reference. The NAB prosecutor replied that they had filed the request. The prosecutor alleged that Mustafa Kamal had illegally allotted shops in Jahangir Kothari Parade, which were part of the park's land.
Defence lawyer Safia Hassan Sabir Advocate argued that the shops were allocated in 1984, and Mustafa Kamal was not even in the picture at that time. The court remarked, verbal arguments are not enough, documentary evidence is needed. The NAB prosecutor replied that the documents were not available, and the office was also closed. The court expressed surprise, wondering how NAB court could be working if the office was closed.
The NAB prosecutor requested time to present the documents. The court adjourned the hearing of the reference until May 11 and ordered NAB officials to present the relevant documents.
Stray dogs
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has requested a reply from the Cantonment Board and other parties regarding the petition against the Cantonment Board's inaction towards the increasing number of stray dogs in the Defence and Clifton areas.
A hearing was held on the petition of a lady Samira Muhammadi, against the Cantonment Board Clifton for not taking action to eliminate stray dogs in the Defence and Clifton areas.
During a conversation with the public prosecutor, the Chief Justice (CJ) expressed astonishment at the existence of individuals who would go as far as killing dogs. The public prosecutor argued that although there are laws to control dog breeding, the act of killing them is not explicitly mentioned in the legislation.
The court has sought a response from Cantonment Board Clifton and other parties and ordered that the petitions regarding the action against stray dogs be consolidated and dealt with collectively.
Govt quarter for Mukhtiarkar
The Sindh High Court has issued notices to Board of Revenue and others on a petition filed by a revenue officer demanding allocation of a government quarter.
During the hearing of the petition, the lawyer for the petitioner Muhammad Waseem Taj Nonari, argued that his client was not being provided with a quarter despite having entitlement. The counsel requested the court to issue orders in this regard.
During the hearing, Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput made interesting remarks, saying that a Mukhtarkar (revenue officer) is the owner of his area and can even cancel the land rights of anyone he wants. He is considered a powerful officer in the province, so what does he need a government quarter for? He is so powerful that he can even live in a hotel. The petitioner's counsel replied that his client is still junior and lacks experience, on which the courtroom echoed with laughter.
Published in The Express Tribune May 5th, 2024.
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