ISLAMABAD: The Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has lodged a complaint with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against the Sindh government for ‘illegal’ allotment of 600 acres of land carved out of mangrove forest area in Karachi to an ex-secretary to the Sindh chief minister.

Terming the alleged illegal sale of the land located between DHA Creek Avenue and Korangi Road as a ‘mega scam’ the Transparency International in its complaint estimated the cost of land at Rs400 billion.

The TIP, in its letter to NAB, pointed out that the area was in litigation in the Sindh High Court, and in connivance with the public office holders, the matter was deliberately not pursued with High Court or Supreme Court, and national interests were compromised by all the government functionaries.

The area is an estuary of Arabian Sea, and consists of mangroves.

A number of fake allotment papers were produced in the past by various claimants of this prime land but their fraudulent efforts could not succeed due to a vigilant civil society and an active judiciary.

TIP letter said the high official, who is also ex-secretary to the Sindh chief minister, claimed that the area had been allotted to him or in the names of relatives or associate by the Board of Revenue, Sindh, as a compensation or adjustment with other land in interior of Sindh, under the illegal grounds of hardship case.

TIP asked Director-General of NAB Sindh to take notice of the illegal act of Sindh government and examine the allegations, which if found correct, the deal must be stopped, illegal allotment be cancelled, and action be taken against those found responsible.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2014