SHC extends protective bail of ex-LG minister

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday extended interim pre-arrest bail of former local government minister and current MPA Jam Khan Shoro who has been booked in cases registered by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) pertaining to illegal auction of the Karachi Development Authority’s (KDA) plots and illegal occupation of government land.

Shoro has been issued call-up notice by NAB in a reference against former KDA chief Syed Nasir Abbas regarding the illegal auction of 62 commercial plots in different parts of the city by the KDA.

NAB alleged that nine commercial plots were illegally allotted to a frontman of Shoro against a sum of Rs150 million each. The former local government minister was also questioned for illegal allotment of government land in Hyderabad.

The SHC also granted interim protective bail to Shoro in another NAB inquiry. The applicant’s counsel submitted that NAB had issued call-up notice to the applicant without sharing any details of allegations or evidence of his involvement in corruption.

The lawyer informed the court that Shoro feared his arrest by the federal anti-graft watchdog and sought protective bail with regard to the call-up notice issued by NAB. The SHC granted interim pre-arrest protective bail to the Pakistan Peoples Party leader till March 29 and sought comments from NAB. The court also directed the petitioner to cooperate in the investigation. The high court also directed the NAB’s counsel to come prepared next time to argue the case.