Sindh High Court (SHC) Friday ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to look into the petition of Federal Minister for Water Resources, Faisal Vawda against Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar for alleged misappropriation of public funds. A division bench of SHC, headed by Chief Justice SHC Ahmed Ali M Sheikh disposed of the petition of Faisal Vawda after sending it to NAB for looking into the issue.
Faisal Vawda had filed the constitutional petition against Mayor Karachi in July last year before being elected in July 25, 2019 general election. Vawda sought the inquiry against him over misappropriation of funds in Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC).
Vawda expressed his concern over the mismanagement of funds and corruption in KMC under elected Mayor Karachi and Transfer and submitted before the court that he has evidence that approximately Rs 10 billion has been received by KMC under the mayorship of Waseem Akhtar. However, he has been using power and funds entirely for fulfillment of ulterior motive, which he termed totally "uncalled for."
He said that corruption is rampant in all departments in Karachi. NAB should be allowed to investigate the mayor for financial irregularities, it added. Petitioner prayed the court to order NAB to conduct fair and impartial inquiry against Mayor Karachi. It also pleaded for audit of funds received by Waseem Akhtar from the sources of KMC and Sindh Government on development projects.
In today's hearing, SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh said that Vawda could have requested the NAB for investigation himself. To this, his lawyer said that Vawda is a federal minister but doesn't interfere in the working of other institutions.
Chief Justice, however stated that court is not ordering NAB to investigate the issue but asking it to look into the application and deal with it as per the law. Waseem Akhtar's lawyer said that NAB should be given a time frame to conduct the investigation. The chief justice said that they can't give any such instruction.
NAB prosecutor submitted that NAB would take action according to law when court asked him about the legal action on the issue. Meanwhile, in corruption scam in SITE Limited case, Chief Justice SHC summoned Deputy Director NAB Karachi to appear in the next hearing of the case after showing annoyance over NAB Prosecutor and investigation officer of the case.
Chief Justice questioned the credibility of NAB after investigation officer told the court that signatures over closure of inquiry into this are similar to his signatures, however these are, in fact not genuine as he didn't sign it.
Chief Justice warned that if the signatures were proved to be of investigation officer, then Deputy Director NAB and investigation officer would be sent to jail.
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