National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Karachi is likely to seek inclusion of 19 builders and developers in the Exit Control List (ECL) amid apprehension that they may flee abroad in a bid to avoid action against them for their involvement in land grabbing and other illicit activities.
Sources said that the NAB Karachi has initiated inquiries against 19 builders and developers over their involvement in land grabbing and other illicit activities. Alongside expedited investigation, their names may be referred to FIA for inclusion in the ECL in order to foil their possible attempt to flee abroad. These builders and developers include: Ghani Builders, Saima Builders, Sahil Builders, etc., hail from lower Sindh in general and Karachi, in particular.
The NAB Karachi recently took two owners of Messrs Rufi Builders and Developers namely Rauf Ahmed Rufi and Manzoor Ahmed Rufi into custody over the charges of cheating public at large by denying possession of plots to 415 allottees, who made payments 17 years ago under their project Rufi Global City that was located at main super highway.
They have been accused of extorting millions of rupees from public by over-booking of plots on land of 45 acres. Following the arrests of Rufi Builders, a delegation led by chairman ABAD Arif Jeewa met Mohammad Altaf Bawany, Director General NAB Karachi and pleaded him to take the association on board before initiating inquiry against any builder and developer.
Talking to Business Recorder, Arif Jeewa confirmed that during meeting with DG NAB Karachi, ABAD assured full cooperation and sought to play proactive role in the recovery for the bureau, if the association was taken into confidence in the inquiry against the builders and developers.
He further said that DG NAB had given assurance to the ABAD delegation that builders, who were directly involved in any scam, would only be arrested while those developers, who just purchased the land and had no role in any illicit activity, would not be taken to task. However, the NAB sources denied meeting between DG NAB and ABAD delegation. They also ruled out any possibility to get ABAD assistance in inquires being conducted against what they said builders' mafia.