Ex SSGC MD involved in corruption, SHC told

Karachi

The former managing director of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) is involved in acts of corruption pertaining to illegal allotment of gas field contracts to private companies without issuing any tenders, illegal appointments within the company and providing illegal logistic support and consultancy to private hospitals, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) told the Sindh High Court on Thursday.

Filing comments on a petition against the detention of former SSGC MD Zuhair Ahmed Siddiqui, NAB’s prosecutor said an inquiry against the former petroleum minister and other accused persons was approved by the Chairman NAB. He stated it had been found out during the course of the investigation that accused Zuhair Ahmed Siddiqui was involved in corruption resulting in losses of millions to the national exchequer.

The NAB’s prosecutor submitted that Siddiqui had awarded contracts at Kunar Pakasi Deep, Bobi, Sinjoro and Naimat Basal gas fields to private companies without issuing any tenders, made illegal appointments at SSGC and provided illegal logistic support and consultancy to private hospitals. It was submitted that the Mitha Ram hostel was also declared as a police station of NAB and the custody of the detainee was not handed over to Rangers after obtaining remand from the Accountability Court. The NAB counsel requested the court to dismiss the petition as not maintainable.

Petitioner Imrana Zuhair submitted that her spouse Zuhair Siddiqui was detained by the Rangers for 90 days in August and after the period was over he was falsely implicated in corruption cases pertaining to illegal appointments in the SSGC. The petitioner submitted that her spouse had nothing to do with any offence or corrupt practice during his tenure as the managing director of SSGC. Her counsel Farooq H Naek submitted that despite the court order, the petitioner’s spouse was not being provided medical treatment. The court, after taking comments of NAB on record, adjourned the hearing till January 4.

Notice to FIA

The Sindh High Court issued notices to the ministry of interior, federal investigation agency and others on a petition of the financial advisor of a private firm against harassment with regards to an inquiry into alleged laundering of US$2.248 million.

Petitioner Shamim Mushtaq Siddiqui, a financial advisor of Pakland housing and Sonax housing, submitted in the petition that he has been harassed by the FIA under the garb of an inquiry with regards to money laundering charges. He submitted that he has no nexus with the bank accounts of the companies or land however the FIA officials wanted to fix him in the money laundering scam.

The FIA had initiated an inquiry against the Shamim Mushtaq Siddiqui and chief executive of company Mian Mohammad Abdullah following the death of Tariq Mohsin Siddiqui of Pakland Group under foreign exchange regulation, anti-money laundering, criminal breach of trust and fraud charges. It was alleged that the petitioner and other co-suspects had occupied the Benami properties which comprises of 11 companies and 13 lands by way of transferring the same from the name of directors of the companies in their names under fake documents and signatures and also got shares of company of other persons in their own names.

It was alleged that suspects shifted the huge money abroad particularly to Switzerland through illegal channel Dubai by way of Hundi and Hawala and then credited the amounts in bank Julious Baer &Co Zurich, Switzerland.

FIA alleged that suspects also got returned/repatriated the said money which was US$22,48,000 from Switzerland at private bank accounts of one Misbah Karim and Miftah Karim at Karachi, London and Dubai. 

The court issued notices to deputy attorney general, FIA and others for January 4 with direction to inquiry officer to appear along with relevant record.