SHC extends PPP leader's interim bail in land allotment case

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday extended interim bail of former Sindh minister Jam Khan Shoro in a case pertaining to illegal allotment of 62 government plots in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar area.

A bench of the high court extended the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader bail until April 3.

The investigation officer in the case stated before the court that investigation against the ex-minister had been completed as the matter had been referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman for approval to file a reference in the relevant court.

According to NAB officials, three different inquiries are being carried out against the former local government minister, one of them pertained to illegal allotment of 62 government plots in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar area.

They said illegal allotment of plots cost the national exchequer Rs180 million. Former Director General of KDA Nasir Abbas has also been arrested in the same case.

Earlier, on March 15, the SHC had granted protective bail to the PPP leader in connection with another inquiry being carried out against him by the corruption watchdog.

A two-judge bench headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh approved bail for the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader against a surety of Rs500,000.

Jam Shoro’s lawyer contended before the bench that the bureau wanted to arrest his client. He, however, didn’t provide details of the inquiry which he claimed could result in his client’s arrest and demanded that the PPP leader be granted protective bail.

Separately, the same bench rejected the former minister’s plea for protective bail in yet another case and issued notice to the bureau seeking its reply on the next hearing on March 29.