NAB initiates inquiry into 3,500 acres of state land fraud

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Karachi, has initiated an inquiry into an alleged mega fraud of changing the ownership of 3,500 acres of state land of district Thatta to private persons.

The NAB sources said that the said forgery had been committed by a mafia with the connivance of some corrupt officials of deputy commissioner’s office, Thatta, and Sindh Board of Revenue.

In an official letter addressed to an individual Rasool Bux Jakhro, resident of the same district Thatta, it was described that the competent authority of NAB has taken cognizance of the offence of corruption and corrupt practices of forgery and committing fraud in the record of rights pertaining to 3,500 acres of Deh Kohistan, Taluka Jhampir, district Thatta, and then manipulating the same through further sale to owners of a Karachi based private builder which according to the Bureau is cognizable offence under Section 9 (a) and punishable under Section 10 of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999.

The NAB sources further said that the said land is at prime location and located adjacent to M-9 Motorway (Karachi-Hyderabad Road), commonly known as the Super Highway. NAB Karachi’s Deputy Director Umair Ahmad directed Jakhro that as per the initial inquiry, he is in possession of information evidence, which pertains to the commission of said fraud, to appear along all the relevant record, information and title documents before the Combined Inspection (CIT) Team. The NAB sources concluded that in connection with the said inquiry of mega fraud, such directions were also conveyed to the deputy commissioner's office, Thatta, and Sindh Board of Revenue authorities for the submission of relevant records.