KARACHI: The Karachi chapter of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has found that the illegal allotment of 307 acres in the Malir riverbed during 2011-12 for housing societies not only damaged the natural structure but also caused a loss of over Rs15 billion to the national exchequer, an official said on Friday.

He said this was uncovered in an inquiry by the bureau and on its basis NAB’s Karachi chapter had sought the approval from its chairman to launch a proper investigation into the alleged violation of rules and destruction of natural resources which may lead to filing of references against top provincial and local administration officials, including the then chief secretary.

“A principle decision was made for recommendation to the NAB chairman for authorising four investigations in an inquiry concluded against Sindh government functionaries and others regarding realignment and construction of Malir River Bund for the purpose of housing societies and illegal allotment of land from within Malir riverbed,” said a NAB statement issued after the meeting of its regional board here.

The meeting, which was chaired by NAB Karachi director general Mohammad Altaf Bawany, reviewed the progress made so far on different inquiries and investigations.

“It was concluded in the inquiry that 307 acres of land were illegally allotted to various beneficiaries in violations of law and rules by way of fresh allotment and exchange after squeezing the boundaries of Malir River,” the statement said. “The inquiry recommended for four investigations contains prima facie allegations of misuse of authority allegedly committed by 20 government officials including senior officers of chief secretary level and below, along with various beneficiaries and frontmen. Preliminary calculation of the loss to the national exchequer is Rs15.7 billion.”

Dadu funds

The board meeting, it said, also approved an investigation for filing a reference against officers of the district accounts office, Dadu and others on charges of embezzlement and misappropriation of pension funds allocated to the district administration.

“The reference allegedly contains charges against Ghulam Mustafa Lund, Muhammad Nazir Bhutto — both former district accounts officers of Dadu — and others for corruption, misuse of authority for personal illegal gains and thus causing loss to the national exchequer worth Rs736 million,” said the statement.

Accused Ghulam Mustafa had also entered into a voluntary return agreement whereby he agreed to deposit in the exchequer an amount of Rs356m and was still defaulting for remaining Rs146m, it added.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2018