KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau has sought time from an accountability court to submit a reply on a plea bargain filed by a Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist in a Rs320 million corruption reference.
In Tuesday’s hearing the judge was informed that Qazi’s plea was sent to the NAB chairman but he was yet to take a decision over the matter. The IO requested the court to grant the agency some more time to submit a reply and the hearing was adjourned till August 16.
Minhaj Qazi, a former security in-charge of MQM headquarters Nine Zero was facing charges of encroachment through China-cutting and selling the land to the public after establishing residential schemes. Earlier, the suspect’s counsel had filed an application in the court requesting his client to be allowed to enter into a plea bargain with NAB.
Qazi was arrested in February, last year, initially on charges of terrorism but was also nominated in the triple murder case of then KESC managing director Shahid Hamid, his driver and a security guard – shot dead in DHA on July 5, 1997. He was then also named in the Rs320 million corruption reference.
According to the reference, Qazi in connivance with his associates fraudulently made Rs320 million through a housing scheme constructed off the Northern Bypass. The project, Areesha City, was built on encroached land.
