Dubious plots: Plot owner gets protective bail

EOBI officials purchased a four acres plot at the cost of Rs2.2 billion against its actual price: Media reports

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) granted protective pre-arrest bail to the owner of a plot allegedly involved in Employees Old Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) graft scam worth Rs40 billion.

According to media reports, the EOBI officials purchased a four acres plot at the cost of Rs2.2 billion against its actual price, which is estimated at Rs1 billion.

Nighat Begum, the owner of the plot in question, approached the high court seeking grant of pre-arrest bail on Tuesday.

The plot is located in Deh Mehran, Malir, Karachi.

Lawyer Khawaja Naveed Ahmed submitted that the applicant, Nighat Begum, was named one of the accused in the graft scam. He claimed that the applicant had nothing to do with the offence.

The accused, wife of Colonel (retd) Asad, who is also named in the graft, pleaded to the court to grant her protective bail as she apprehended arrest at the hands of the investigating agency. Headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, the bench granted her bail before arrest subject to furnishing Rs250,000 surety with the court official. The applicant was directed to join investigation.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2013.