The suspect was arrested for involvement in embezzlement of plots worth Rs5b. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: An accountability court extended on Saturday the remand of Lines Area Redevelopment Project (LARP) former project director who was arrested on charges of land grabbing.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials had arrested Fareed Ahmed Yousufani on August 6 and took him into custody on a 14-day physical remand for questioning.
The department is empowered to detain a suspect for 90 days for interrogation, said NAB spokesperson. However, the suspect has to be produced before the court after two-week intervals, official added.
The investigators presented Yousufani before the administrative judge of the accountability courts and requested for an extension of his custody. It was contended that the investigations have yet to be completed.
The administrative judge, Saeed Qureshi, heard the prosecution plea and ordered an extension of two more weeks.
The suspect was arrested for his alleged involvement in land grabbing of plots worth Rs5 billion through 'china-cutting' to bypass the auction. The land was allotted to builders and land grabbers who paid hefty bribes and commissions to the officials.
Earlier this year, five top officials of the LARP, director Waseem Iqbal, deputy directors Fareed Naseem and Shahid Umar, and additional directors Atta Abbas and Rashid Hussain, were also arrested by NAB on similar charges.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2015.
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