ACE report sought on misappropriation in Thatta uplift funds

Karachi
The Sindh High Court has directed the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) chairman to submit a report on misappropriation of funds in Thatta development schemes within two weeks.
The direction came on a petition of Ghulam Rasool seeking inquiry into misappropriation of funds Thatta uplift.
He alleged that Transition Officer Hanif Memon and TMO Thatta Manzoor Hussain Abbassi were involved in misappropriation of funds of Rs 173,970,464 approved for the development schemes in Thatta from March 2010 to September 2011 and despite allocation of funds no development work was carried out and contracts were being awarded without any transparent process.
The court observed that the ACE chairman was directed to hold inquiry into the allegations and proceed on with the matter in accordance with the law but the inquiry report was not sent before the court despite repeated directions in January.
The division bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, directed the ACE chairman to submit the inquiry report within two weeks without fail and directed the law officer to send the reminder to him to do the needful.
Illegal plotting at Safari park
The court has directed the Sindh law officer to submit a report regarding construction of house for residence on the land earmarked for the Alladin Park in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area.
An NGO, Shehri and others had filed petitions against illegal allotment of plots to private developers for purpose of commercial and residential units on the Safari Park land.
The court observed that as per Nazir’s report, a bungalow measuring 2,000 square yards has been found constructed on the land earmarked for Alladin Park.
Nazir’s report mentioned that one Hassan Mirza, an officer of the KMC, was found in possession of the said bungalow at the time of inspection.
The KMC’s counsel submitted that land of such bungalow was acquired by the KMC prior to allocation of land in question for allotment of Alladin Park and undertook to place the relevant documents.
He informed the court that the bungalow was now in possession of the Sindh government.
The division bench, headed by Justice Nadeem Akhtar, directed the advocate general to apprise the court of the status of such construction and file the counter affidavit within two weeks.
Plea against harassment
The court has issued notices to the Sindh advocate general, prosecutor general and others on a plea against alleged harassment by the Rangers personnel.
Bilal Shah had submitted that the Rangers personnel of 53 Wing were harassing him and his father, forcing them to pay Rs 2 million to one Kamran alias Kami to settle the business dispute.
He said that he and his father had nothing to do with the business transaction and due to fraud by one Nadeem Iqbal, who obtained Rs 35,000,000 from them, they wound up their car showroom in the PECHS area.
He said that Rangers personnel, including DSR Manzoor and others, were harassing him and took his licensed pistol and other valuables and threatened that he will be booked over affiliation with any banned militant organisation.
The court afterissuing notice to the advocate general and others directed the official respondent to act strictly in accordance with the law.

Detention case
The court directed the federal law officer to submit a report regarding whereabouts of two detainees, allegedly detained by the Rangers since November 1, 2012.
Hasti Gul had submitted that his son Bilal and brother Pakhtoon Khan were picked up by the Rangers from North Karachi area and their whereabouts are yet unknown.
The court was informed by the police officer of Khuwaja Ajmair Nagri police station that the police were making every effort to trace the missing persons.
The petitioner submitted that a letter was written to Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa government to disclose whether the missing persons were detained at any internment centers, however, no response was received yet from them. The court directed the police officer to continue efforts for recovery of the missing persons and also directed the attorney general to submit a report after verification from the KPK government.