KARACHI - Sindh High Court (SHC) Sukkur bench on Wednesday ordered the NAB to file a reference against persons who have illegally grabbed the forest department’s land. A bench comprised of Justice Aftab Gorar and Justice Faheem Ahmed Siddiqui heard the case. The counsel told the court that Jahangir Tareen has also grabbed forest land in Ghotki district.
“We know many influential persons have encroached forest land, the department’s people not disclosing the names,” Justice Aftab Gorar remarked.
The bench ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file references against influential people involved in grabbing of the forest land.
The court asked about the compliance of its arrest orders against an influential man Sarfaraz Ahmed. “Why he was not arrested,” Justice Gorar questioned. “He has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court,” the bench was informed.
“Why he failed to appear here over the court orders,” the bench further asked.
The court issued a show-cause notice to the SSP Tando Allahyar. The bench also ordered the AIG and DIG to ensure compliance of the court order by the SSP. The court ordered arrest of the influential land grabber Sarfaraz Ahmed.
The court also issued show-cause notice to the Chief Engineer Irrigation Kotri for supplying water to the illegally encroached land. “Entire Sindh has become a tragic land, we have to protect it as the sons of the soil,” Justice Gorar remarked. He also directed the Rangers to play its role in operation as frontline force. The bench adjourned further hearing of the case till June 1st.
SHC seeks reply from NAB
in Morai’s plea challenging
sentence in FCS case
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on W ednesday sought a reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in former chairman of the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS), Nisar Morai’s plea challenging his jail sentence in an illegal recruitment case. Accountability court had awarded 11-year jail term to Nisar Morai in the FCS reference.
Morai’s lawyer in his arguments before the court stated that his client was arrested on April 10, 2018, over charges of illegal appointments in the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS).
Terming the allegations as baseless he demanded to set aside the NAB court’s verdict against Morai. The NAB’s lawyer opposing the acquittal of the accused stated before the court that Morai abused his power while being chairman of the FCS. The court after hearing the initial arguments from both sides sought reply from the NAB in the case.
The court had awarded 11-year jail term to Nisar Morai in FCS reference. He was handed four years jail term for illegal recruitment and seven years’ sentence for misuse of authority. In its verdict, the court observed that Nisar Morai made 143 illegal recruitments and regularised jobs of 20 people during his tenure and the charge of illegal recruitments against him has been proved in the case. The NAB had filed a reference in January 2018, accusing then FCS chief Morai and others of misusing their authority, embezzling funds, making illegal appointments and awarding fake contracts during 2014-15. According to the reference, the defendants caused losses to the tune of Rs343 million to the national exchequer.