NAB chairman requested to file reference against Sindh LG minister

Author: Aslam Shah

KARACHI: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) requested NAB chairman to file a reference against Sindh Minister for Local Government Jam Khan Shoro, his brother Kashif Shoro and their accomplices, who had been reportedly occupying government land near Kotri Barrage and established a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station on it, after completion of a probe in the matter.

NAB also informed NAB chairman that the aforementioned persons had been using Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) cable TV network license of Raza Cable TV Network in Qasimabad Hyderabad illegally to operate their own joint venture, Hyderabad Cable Communication (Pvt) Limited.

The land in question, bearing survey no 312 at Deh Jamshoro Taluka Qasimabad District Hyderabad, was allotted for water head works vide Land Utilization Department allotment order no KB-1/5-9/3357, November 19, 1979, officials of Land Department confirmed.

Subsequently, Land Utilisation Board of Revenue Secretary had requested NAB to initiate legal action against occupiers of the land including Qasimabad Municipal Committee Chairman Kashan Ali, Irfan Ali Memon, Mehar Deshik and Umair Shah.

Besides this, other NAB investigations against the aforementioned included: matters of procurement of a snorkel, misappropriations of development funds and illegal hiring of employees in the department.

Meanwhile, Karachi Development Authority Director General Nasir Abbas revealed that the minister and his confidants had been involved in land grabbing and illegal allotments of land in Karachi and Hyderabad as well.

NAB investigating officials in a letter vide CYC-2415MC-381/NAB Karachi/2017/980, September 2017 informed NAB chairman that Kashan Ali, Irfan Ali Memon, Mehar Deshik and Umair Shah were paying Rs 400,000 per month to Jam Khan Shoro, from the collection of cable TV fees.

NAB officials requested permission of NAB chairman to file references and take legal action against Jam Khan Shoro, Kashif Shoro, Kashan Ali, Irfan Ali Memon, Mehar Deshik and Umair Shah.

NAB informed its chairman that Sindh High Court Circuit Bench Hyderabad on Cr. Misc-application S-495 of 2014, had decided the case in favour of Raza Cable Chief Executive Officer Noshad Raza who submitted an affidavit in which it was stated that he had entered in loop line holder agreement with Mehboob Ali Abro, whereas, Kashan Ali had submitted a forged loop line holder agreement in court.

NAB Karachi Additional Director Shafqat Mehmood, after acquiring details from Land Utilisation Secretary, informed NAB chairman that the CNG station on Kotri Barrage Land had been built illegally.

Published in Daily Times, October 16^th 2017.