Illegal allotment of welfare plot case: AC permits NAB to file supplementary reference till November 29

The Accountability Court hearing the multibillion rupees fake bank accounts case again granted time to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday for filing a supplementary reference in the illegal allotment of a welfare plot case till November 29.

Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir hearing the case granted more time for filing of supplementary reference to the anti-graft body. During the hearing, the NAB officials requested the court to grant some time for filing of supplementary reference. The court approved NAB's request and adjourned hearing till November 29.

Eight accused including Abdul Ghani, an official of Karachi Development Authority (KDA), Matanat Ali Khan, former metropolitan commissioner KMC, Sami-ud-Din Siddiqui, former metropolitan commissioner KMC, Najam-Uz-Zaman, former director Karachi Development Authority (KDA) Wing KMC, Syed Khalid Zafar Hashmi, additional director KDA Wing KMC, Syed Jamil Ahmed, assistant director KDA Wing KMC, Abdul Rasheed, assistant director KDA Wing KMC, and Muhammad Hussain Syed, former administrator Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), appeared before the court.

Another accused Younus Kidwai, a close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari, has already been declared a proclaimed offender due to his continuous absence from the court.

According to NAB, the accused persons by misusing their authority allegedly allotted the government land at Nehr-e-Khayyam Karachi to the M/S Friends Associates which incurred a loss of Rs 3 billion to the national exchequer. The accused used fake accounts for payment.

About the application of accused Najam-uz-Zaman, the NAB official informed the court that the bureau has written a letter to National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and is waiting for the reply. Zaman had filed an application before the court that his Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) had been expired.