Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday dismissed a bail application of former Karachi Development Authority (KDA) director deneral (DG).

Syed Nasir Abbas has been facing a corruption inquiry for allotting residential plots for commercial purposes. The inquiry into the matter has been initiated by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

During the last hearing on March 9, Abbas’s counsel had argued that former KDA DG did not allot any plot illegally.

He contended that his client was taken into custody before a formal inquiry was launched against him by the bureau.

The NAB investigation officer (IO) responded that the arrest was made because ample evidence was available against the accused.

He said documents showing conversion of residential plots into commercial ones, available with the bureau, bore signatures of Abbas. The officer said the former director general had also issued no-objection certificates (NOCs) to set up petrol pumps on such plots. SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh asked whether petrol pumps could be set up on temporary basis, and then reserved a decision on Abbas’s bail plea, which was announced on Friday.

Published in Daily Times, March 17^th 2018.