Court dismisses bail plea of ex-KDA chief in illegal allotment reference

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday dismissed a bail application of former Karachi Development Authority (KDA) Director General (DG) Syed Nasir Abbas.

Abbas has been facing a corruption inquiry for allotting residential plots for commercial purposes. The inquiry into the matter has been initiated by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

At the last hearing on March 9, Abbas’s counsel argued that no plot was illegally allotted to anyone by the former KDA DG.

The defence lawyer contended that his client was taken into custody prior to inquiry launched against him for his alleged involvement in land conversion and plots’ transfer.

At which, the NAB investigation officer (IO) said ample evidence was available against the accused as the documents for the conversion of residential plots into commercial ones bore signatures of Abbas.

The officer said the former director general had also issued no-objection certificates (NOCs) to set up petrol pumps.

To which, Sindh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh asked whether petrol pumps could be set up on temporary basis.

Justice Shaikh then reserved a decision on the plea filed by Abbas.