KARACHI: Sindh Anti-Corruption has lodged an FIR against Danish Saeed Secretary LU Department Government of Sindh, Mir Laiq All s/o Mir Shabbir Ali Section Officer LU Dept, Haji Adam Jokhio, Usman s/o Sadiq and Shafi Rajput in respect of issuance of illegal challan for state land exchanged fraudulently in K-28 Trans Lyari Quarters District West Karachi admeasuring 159 acres.
Chief Consultant (Land & Property) FBR Anwer Iqbal claimed that the impugned land actually belonged to Pakistan Customs and Sindh government was attempting to occupy the land and allot the same to very accused nominated in this FIR.
Anti Corruption Establishment found several irregularities and illegalities in this regard. No land acquisition proceeding took place in respect of Land forming basic of exchange.
The land so ordered exchanged in K-28 Trans Lyari from Koknkar and Kharkharo Karachi East (now District Malir) still stands in the names of ‘Khatedars’ and is in their possession. Hence the exchange Is fraudulent and illegal.
According to FIR, 320 acres land has been given to attorney Adam Jokhio and sub Attorney Sabir Hussain Jokhio and challan for 159 acres land has been issued and paid by Haji Adam. Whereas, remaining 160 acres of Usman and others were in pipe lines for regularization shifting from Deh Kharkharo and Konkor to K-28.
Although, land was exchanged in 1993, yet in 1994 it was cancelled. However, they kept claiming and possessing land obtained on so called exchange basis at the rate of Rs15000/acre by showing differential Malkanio which were never deposited in government Treasury, so the Challans are fake.
Surprisingly exchanged land which has been established as a byproduct of fictitious and farce exercise executed through forgery, has been its possession of beneficiaries since 1993 in Hawksbay District West Karachi. None of the field officers ever got it retrieved physically in favor of government. Such omission is tacit approval to beneficiary to keep occupying the Land, which can’t be without malafide motives.
Anti Corruption Establishment established that alleged persons in connivance of each other with common intention committed criminal breach of trust, fraud and cheating with government and prepared false and fake documents.
It may be mentioned here that as per NAB Ordinance, any fraud case involving value above Rs500 million would be handled by NAB. However, Sindh government gave it to Anti-Corruption, while the sections lodged in the FIR are easily bailable.
Anwer said that when he and his team visited the site on September 12, 2019, they found that ownership signboard of Sindh government had been installed on the land. The structures established at the land by land grabbers were still there and housing private security guards of land grabbers.
Anwer Iqbal said on 29-8-2019, a letter was send to Chairman NAB and NAB Sindh to take action in this regard, but Sindh government moved faster and made a case through Anti Corruption. An accused Danish Saeed was arrested and was granted bail.
Anwer Iqbal said the 960 acres of land was worth Rs30-40 billion as per FBR official survey. He added that Marine Academy and Mauripur Police Station, Customs Colony Mauripur and Lakshmi Salt Works established on this land, all these leases were given by Pakistan Customs.
Anwer Iqbal said DC West Zahid Hussain Memon was coordinating with FBR to vacate the land. But, Memon was transferred before Anti Corruption raided the site and made the case.
He said FBR was quite lenient in the matter and they were reluctant to pursue the case aggressively because of pressure and involvement of officers with the Sindh government and land grabbers.