Chief secretary forms committee to probe corruption in sub-registrar offices

Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah on Friday took notice on complaints against corruption in sub-registrar offices and ordered formation of an inquiry committee to look into them.

He also ordered that the sub-registrars who had been serving for more than five years in the Karachi division be transferred. Officials said that acting on the findings of an inquiry report submitted by the Chief minister’s inspection team (CMIT), the Sindh government took a decision to address corruption in the sub-registrar offices.

The CMIT’s probe that highlighted widespread irregularities over the past five to 10 years in Karachi's sub-registrar offices led to the formation of a high-powered committee tasked with conducting a thorough investigation.

The committee constituted with the approval of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah by the chief secretary would investigate record to expose the extent of corruption and hold those responsible accountable.

The investigative body is required to complete its task within 90 days and submit a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations to the senior member of the Board of Revenue Sindh.

On the initial inquiry report of the CMIT, the chief secretary remarked that it was alarming to note that examination of just 29 registered deeds uncovered significant fraud and it likely indicated a larger issue.

He said investigation the record of sub-registrar offices in Karachi over the last five to 10 years would likely reveal extensive corruption. The Board of Revenue should conduct a thorough investigation and hold those responsible accountable, he added.

He asked the Board of Revenue to take steps to make good the injustice done to genuine and rightful title-holders by reaching out to the courts of competent jurisdictions on behalf of the state under intimation to the competent authorities and following the prescribed procedure, subject to the law.