KARACHI, Aug 4: An accountability appellate bench of the High Court of Sindh, comprising Justice Mohammed Mujeebullah Siddiqui and Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro, on Wednesday quashed proceedings of an accountability reference against former DC East Syed Anwar Ali Shah.

The applicant was facing trial before an accountability court at Karachi on charge of causing a loss of Rs 52.27 million to the provincial exchequer.

According to prosecution, Khub Chand, using political clout, moved an application before the former chief minister, Sindh Syed Abdullah Shah, for transfer of a non-commercial piece of land to commercial one in Gulistan-i-Johar. Ramesh Udeshi, the then Member, Land Utilization, Sindh presented the summary before the former CM who allowed the application.

The present applicant/ accused Syed Anwar Ali Shah opposed the commercialization and endorsed a negative remark which was overruled by the co-accused, Syed Abdullah Shah who using his discretionary powers allowed the application by Khub Chand.

The bench after hearing the counsel for applicant allowed the plea for quashment of proceedings against the applicant before the accountability court.

PLEA ADMITTED: A division bench of Sindh High Court, comprising Justice Mohammed Mujeebullah Siddiqui and Justice Mohammed Afzal Soomro, on Wednesday admitted for hearing a state appeal against acquittal of three persons, including a women by a trial court in a kidnapping for ransom case and issued notices to respondents.

Tahira alias Yasmeen, Ihsan Illahi and Farhan were acquitted by an anti-terrorism court of Karachi. They were prosecuted on charge of kidnapping a businessman, Khawaja Muhammad Abbasi, for ransom from Lighthouse area on Dec 23, 2003.

Two accused, Ihsan Illahi and Farhan, are being tried under the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance. The court was prayed to set aside the trial court order and convict the respondents.

Meanwhile, the same court also granted bail to Ismail in a drug case and ordered him to furnish a surety in the sum of Rs200,000. He, along with his brothers Aslam and Anwar, is facing trial before the Control of Narcotics Substance Court in MirpurKhas. It is alleged that five kgs of charas was recovered from the autaq of applicant's brother Mohammed Aslam. -PPI

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