Daily Times

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has initiated a probe into commercialisation of two roads and nominated former Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director general and 13 officials, including Master Plan Department officials, in this “illegal” act.

Muhammad Kamran, deputy assistant director, Investigation Officer (IW-1) NAB has started an inquiry on the directives of Mirza Saqib Baig, deputy director (IW-1) under vide letter 221200-KHi.WI-1/CQ-B/NAB/2018/700, January 18, 2018.

Officials of SBCA while confirming NAB action have said that Manzoor Qadir alias Kaka, former DG and other officials are allegedly involved in changing status of 40-yard roads in Clifton and Pakistan Employees Cooperative Housing Society Block-2.

The NAB has issued notices to officials, including former DG to justify their position. Manzoor Qadir is presently out of the country.

SBCA officials further revealed that residential and commercial sites in name of Clifton Vista on plot G-19 Block 9 and Park View Apartment on plot 232/C/2 in PECHS, Karachi after completion have already been sold.

NAB Karachi has already completed investigations into conversion of 11 other residential plots on ‘non-declared roads’ into commercial in parts of city.

The NAB has collected all relevant documents, files and papers of these illegally converted plots from civic departments concerned.

Most interesting feature took place when Sindh Assembly passed SBCA Amendment Bill on February 2, 2014, and a gazette notification in this effect was issued on March 20, 2014 under the act that authority could draw up master plans for all districts in Karachi.

Despite facts that objection by secretary, commercialisation Master Plan, Shehri complaints regarding change of land use and objections by civic departments and civil society members, SBCA Committee decided non-declared commercial strips, low commercial plots meant for petrol pump and change of land use of amalgamated plots to high commercial status.

The game changers-members of Committee under directions of former DGs of SBCA, politicians, party members and relations of ruling party, media persons and bureaucrats issued no objection certificates to respective owners of these plots during 2012 to 2016.

It is pertinent to mention here that under a notification, SO/L&C/HTP/SBCA/12-14/2013, November 6, 2013 from Secretary, Local Government Department Sindh, Qaim Ali Shah the then Chief Minister Sindh had assigned all administrative, financial and technical control of Master Plan Department of KMC to the command and control of DG, SBCA regarding all affairs of said department.

The areas where high rise buildings were constructed on non-declared roads including Surjani Town, North Karachi, New Karachi, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Old Golimar, Pak Colony, Liaquatabad, Shershah, SITE area, F B Area, most of the Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauher, Malir, Model Colony, Shah Faisal, Landhi and Korangi, Mahmoodabad, Manzoor Colony, KDA scheme I, Dhoraji Colony, Sindhi Muslim, Bahadurabad, land under control of Bihar Cooperative Society, Karachi Administration Society, Muslimabad, Jamsheed Quarters, PIB Colony, Soldier Bazaar, Pakistan Quarters, Ranchore Lines, Garden east and west, Kharadar and Mithadar, Lyari, Chakiwara, Agra Taj Colony, Bakra Piri, Mera Naka, Mianwali Colony, Bihar Colony, Burns Road, Railway Colony, PIDC, Old Clifton and Civil Lines.

Published in Daily Times, January 25^th 2018.