HYDERABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed a reference in accountability court on Wednesday for embezzlement of Rs5.8 billion in National Highway Authority’s funds, which were meant for acquisition of land for Matiari and Naushahro Feroze sections of Hyderabad-Sukkur M6 Motorway land scam.
NAB prosecutor Jangu Khan said that Rs5.8bn had been embezzled by 19 accused. The reference about Naushahro Feroze section would be amalgamated into the Matiari’s. NAB had also sought permission for filing supplementary reference in this case after the investigation which required physical remand of some of the accused, he said.
According to the reference, it emerged during the investigation that private persons and main beneficiaries involved in the embezzlement of funds of M-6 project were the same in Matiari and Naushahro Feroze districts. So, the inquiry of NAB Sukkur was merged with the ongoing investigation by NAB Karachi and a single probe into misappropriation of NHA funds was ordered under provisions of NAO, 1999.
The investigation found that former Matiari deputy commissioner Adnan Rasheed and former assistant commissioner, who was made land acquisition officer (LAO), Mansoor Abbasi, set up their camp office in Matiari DC house, which was used for matters pertaining to land acquisition and distribution of cheques to alleged landholders.
The accused violated the land acquisition process with criminal intent by making payment of compensation in derogation of acquisition procedures and laws even without passing award under section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, which was a sine qua non.
The ex-DC recommended opening a new bank account by LAO who in connivance with officials of Sindh Bank’s Matiari branch opened the account without seeking mandatory permission from Sindh finance department under Regulation 1(21) of Anti-Money Laundering and combating Terrorism (AML/CFT) Regulations for Banks & DFIs.
The former DC and AC engaged private persons, Rehmatullah Solangi, Asghar Jatoi, Ashique Hussain Kaleri, Aslam Pirzada and Zawar Shah for maneuvering and misappropriating government funds in Matiari through open and bearer cheques in violation of the guidelines of Board of Revenue (BoR) and the procedure provided under provisions of LAA, 1894, said the probe.
Both the accused along with Rehmatullah Solangi, Asghar Jatoi and nine other accused withdrew Rs2.37bn from LAO’s account through open cheques without justification that amounted to misappropriation and embezzlement of funds in the absence of award. Of Rs2.37bn, then DC and AC illegally withdrew Rs1.8bn from the account from Oct 17, 2022 to Nov 28, 2022.
The ex-AC wrote letters to Sindh Bank to arrange mentioned cash whereas Rs553m were paid to 22 landowners as compensation. The two violated directives of NHA to not make payment of above Rs10,000 to anyone other than for the land.
Adnan Rashid, Mansoor Abbasi, Rahmatullah Solangi, Asghar Jatoi, Ashique Kaleri and Aslam Pirzada used to withdraw millions of rupees from Sindh Bank in connivance with bank officials and used to distribute their share at the so-called camp office established in Matiari DC house, the probe found.
Adnan and Mansoor shifted share of Rs430m to Lahore to one Mazhar Khan, who recorded statement under section 164 CrPC before judicial magistrate. Out of this amount, Rs420m were later recovered from the house of the former AC, who was required to maintain cash book for payment of land acquired from landowners but no record was maintained to ascertain authenticity of the payment to landowners.
Then DC and AC were not legally competent to withdraw the cash or make payments in the absence of award under provisions of LAA, 1894.
Kaleri was arrested and Rs636m were recovered from him. He had bought properties of over Rs600m from the embezzled amount. He confirmed later he did it in connivance with ex-DC, AC and Rehmatullah and applied for plea bargain of Rs1.247bn.
The properties of Solangi and his family members including Rehmat’s son, Rafiq Ahmed amounting to Rs600m also surfaced which were purchased from the embezzled amount.
Ishrat Lohar, who was appearing for a couple of accused, the court had fixed Aug 8 as next date of hearing.
Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2023
