KMC Employees Cooperative Housing Society: NAB summons former SHC judge in corruption case

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Karachi, has summoned a former judge of the Sindh High Court and renowned lawyer in a case of alleged corruption of millions of rupees in the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Employees Cooperative Housing Society, Karachi.

On July 1, 2021, a regional board meeting of the NAB Karachi had also approved the reference against the said KMC Employees Cooperative Housing Society Karachi and others.

The official press release of NAB Karachi says, "In compliance with the chairman NAB’s initiative of zero tolerance against corruption and focus on mega corruption cases, a regional board meeting, held at the NAB Karachi, has approved the reference against the KMC Employees Cooperative Housing Society, Karachi, accusing office-bearers of the said society, Kaneez Fatima, Sofia Saeed and others, for their alleged involvement in misuse of authority by illegal sale of amenity plots and unlawful conversion of amenity plots into residential and commercial plots."

The NAB press release said the total amount involved in the case comes to the tune of Rs905.829 million. Apart from the said development of approving reference against the said society, a third reminder has been sent by the NAB Karachi to a famous lawyer and the former judge (copy of which is available with The News) in connection with the same case, directing him to appear before Deputy Director of NAB, Karachi, Imran Ali Shaikh, head of the Combined Investigation Team (CIT). In this reminder, the said lawyer was informed that the NAB, Karachi, is conducting the investigation against the KMC Employees Cooperative Housing Society, Karachi, under the provisions of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, and the investigation has revealed that he has received a cross cheque on December 10, 2019 amounting to Rs90 million in his name from accused Sofia Saeed, and he is in possession of information and evidence, which relates to the subject case.

It was also asked from the said lawyer by referring his verbal conservation that according to him Rs35 million was received in lieu of legal fees from the KMC and Rs20 million was invested by his father in Phase 1 of the society, but no documentary proof was submitted by him. Whereas, justification of remaining Rs35 million was not provided at all.

In view thereof, he was once again called to appear in person to clarify the amount in question Rs90 million before the head of the Combined Investigation Team (CIT) Imran Ali Shaikh, along with all relevant supporting documents. The lawyer was warned that failing to comply with this notice, may entail penal consequences provided in the NAO 1999. This reporter approached the said lawyer, called at his number and sent him a detailed message for his version on the subject didn't receive any respondstill the filing of this story.