QUETTA: The chief justice of Balochistan High Court, Mr Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, on Wednesday ruled that departments tasked with looking into allegations of wrongdoing could conduct investigations into the affairs of the revenue department, including illegal allotment of land, mala fide decisions and orders.

He was hearing a constitutional petition filed against the actions taken by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against some housing schemes.

The director general of NAB Balochistan and a senior member of the Board of Revenue (Balochistan), Qamar Masood, appeared before the court to present the stances of their organisations regarding the allotment of land to the owners of housing schemes.

Mr Masood requested the court to issue instructions to the media as well as investigation agencies, including NAB, to refrain from meddling in the affairs of the board.

However, Chief Justice Mandokhail made it clear that investigation departments could carry out probes into the illegal actions or decisions taken by the revenue department, including illegal allotment of land and orders based on mala fide intentions.

While giving a deadline of 30 days, he also issued directives to the SMBR Balochistan to ascertain the ownership of a piece of land and take steps for its protection.

He also asked NAB not to take any further action in this connection within the next one month.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2020