KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Karachi, under the supervision of director general (DG) Najaf Mirza, filed a reference in a 129-34 acre land scam.
The reference was filed against Javed Iqbal, owner of M/s Ghani Builders & Developers, Ghulam Mustafa Phul, ex-member Land Utilisation (LU) Dept, Saqib Soomro, ex-member LU Dept, and others on the charges of misuse of authority and usurpation of state land measuring 129-34 acres situated at seven Dehs (areas) of District East and Malir, Karachi. The reference was admitted under Case No. 5 of 2021 by the Accountability Court Karachi.
Accused Javed Iqbal was the mastermind and linchpin of the scam. He, in connivance with revenue officers and his frontmen/ employees, was involved in usurpation of precious state land measuring 129-34 acres by forged and fabricated documents through corrupt, dishonest and illegal means for his personal gains, thus causing a loss of Rs. 1.55 billion to the national exchequer.
Accused Javed Iqbal sold or occupied 60-30 acres of land to various builders, persons. However, he could not sell 69-04 acres of state land due to timely action taken by the NAB Karachi, resultantly the land is in process of surrender, cancellation. Accused Ghulam Mustafa Phul, ex-member LU Dept, and Ali Akbar Parhyar, ex-Mukhtiarkar Scheme-33, Karachi, have been arrested. Javed Iqbal and Anwar Ali Panhwar are on interim pre-arrest bail. Whereas, accused Saqib Soomro, ex-Member LU Dept, Nazir Amin Maqbool, ex-Mukhtiarkar Scheme-33, Karachi, Iftikharuddin and Iftikhar Ahmed Malik (Frontmen of Javed Iqbal) are absconders.
NAB Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal has reformed the graft-busting institution after assuming office, which led to a record improvement in its overall performance as compared to the past 17 years. The zero tolerance policy against corruption was characterized by the fact that since October 2017, the NAB has recovered Rs533 billion directly and indirectly from corrupt elements. While in the 17 years from its establishment to 2016, it was able to recover a total of Rs 287 billion. The NAB is currently investigating a total of 927 inquiries. According to the current situation, out of 179 mega corruption scam, 63 cases have been brought to a logical conclusion while 95 are pending in various courts.
