KARACHI: An anti-corruption court discharged on Tuesday the director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority and others in a graft case after the complainant moved the court to withdraw the case.

The DG of the SBCA, Manzoor Qadir, deputy directors Sarfraz Hussain and Allauddin, director Safdar Magsi, assistant director Abdul Sami Soomro and others were booked after an inquiry into a direct complaint filed by Imran Razi alleged that they collected a Rs600,000 bribe from him on the pretext of illegal construction in PECHS in 2012.

The case was fixed before judge of the special provincial anti-corruption court Gulshan Ara Chandio on Tuesday for hearing of acquittal applications of the suspects.

However, the complainant turned up before the court and moved an application for withdrawal of the case. Allowing the plea, the court discharged all the suspects.

Earlier, the complainant had submitted a direct complaint in the court and the judge referred the matter to the anti-corruption establishment for an inquiry. The inquiry report suggested that the allegations levelled by the complainant against the SBCA officials were established. Thus, after recording the statement of the complainant, the court took cognisance and lodged a case against them.

They were booked under Sections 161 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act), 166 (public servant disobeying law with intent to cause injury to any person) 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act-1947. The SBCA officials were on bail.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2014