SUKKUR: The Sindh High Court Sukkur bench on Thursday directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to launch a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged illegal transfer of 51 acres of land originally acquired for an educational institution in Naushahro Feroze.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Amjad Ali Bohio and Justice Ali Haider Ada, issued the order during the hearing of a constitutional petition filed by social activist Dr Abdul Qadeer Memon. The petition challenges the failure to establish a sub-campus of the NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology (NFC-IET) on the land, and its subsequent, allegedly unauthorised, transfer to a private company.

During the proceedings, the bench expressed strong dissatisfaction over the diversion of land intended for public education.

The court remarked: “When the students of Sindh have pinned their hopes on the establishment of a quality educational institution, how can the land acquired for such a noble purpose be transferred to a private party?”

The bench further questioned the NAB counsel regarding the legality of transferring land designated for public education to a private entity. Consequently, the court ordered the NAB to investigate the entire process of the land’s acquisition, mutation and subsequent transfer, and to submit a detailed report.

Pending the inquiry, the court reaffirmed its previous order placing the ownership, management and protection of the disputed land under the direct supervision of the deputy commissioner of Naushahro Feroze.

Earlier, counsel representing the federal secretary for the Ministry of Industries and Production, alongside the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, requested additional time to appear, which the court granted. All relevant parties have been directed to present their reports and responses at the next hearing.

Case background

The petition, pursued by Advocate Imtiaz Ali Abbasi, contends that the land for the proposed NFC-IET sub-campus was purchased using public funds. The campus, however, was never established. The petitioner argues that transferring the land to a private firm constitutes a flagrant breach of public trust, a violation of educational rights, and an illegal act.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2026