ISLAMABAD, May 8: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recovered Rs2.65 million from owners of a Sehwan Housing Scheme in Hyderabad, the bureau’s spokesman said. According to the NAB, a firm, House of Maxim, allegedly got the contract for launching a project in the name of Lal Shahbaz Housing Scheme in 1998, in connivance with the director-general of the Sehwan Development Authority (SDA).

The contract was awarded to M/s Housing of Maxim without approval of competent authority and after payment of bribe.

The NAB has recovered the amount from three officials of the scheme under plea bargain.

It was found out during investigation that no other firm had participated in the bidding process.

The House of Maxim was also allowed to collect extra charges directly from the allottees of the Lal Shahbaz Housing Scheme, which was against the laid down procedures of the Karachi Development Authority and Hyderabad Development Authority, the NAB official said.

Four officials of the scheme opted for plea bargain as Dr Abdul Ghafoor Bhutto, son of Nabi Bux, managing partner of M/s House of Maxim, paid Rs1.29 million, Mir Muhammad Saleem Viyani, son of Mr Moosa Viyani, ex-recovery manager of the scheme, paid Rs0.92 million, Mr Mohammad Jamil Khan, son of Mr Muhammad Afzal Khan, partner of M/s House of Maxim, deposited Rs0.431 million.