KARACHI: In line with the Supreme Court’s order of action against government officials involved in the approval process of the controversial Nasla Tower residential complex, police again raided the offices of the Sindh Building Control Authority on Wednesday but failed to make any arrests.
Two days ago, a case was registered at the Ferozebad police station with police also raiding the houses of SBCA officials last night – again without making any arrests.
Officials from Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society (SMCHS), and other civic agencies have been named in the first information report (FIR).
The complaint states that the Nasla Tower, built on 1,121 square yards, was allotted 780 square yards by SMCHS. However, the builder Abdul Qadir in collaboration with the officials of the SMCHS, SBCA, Master Plan Department, and other departments encroached more land, erected the building, and sold apartments and commercial shops.
The case has been filed under Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 161 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect to an official act), 167 (public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury), 218 (public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture), 408 (criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), and 447 (punishment for criminal trespass) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
DIG East Muqaddas Haider has formed a five-member committee to investigate the case to be headed by SP East Investigation Altaf Hussain. Members of the investigation team include SP Jamshed Division Farooq Bijarani, DSP Investigation East Zone Yousuf Jamal, SHO Ferozabad Inspector Khushnood and SIO Ferozabad Inspector Nisar Ahmed, as per the notification.
A team of the anti-corruption department had also raided the SBCA office following the registration of the FIR but were unable to question SBCA DG Saleem Riaz, who disappeared from the office, according to local news channel Samaa TV.
Earlier today, a police team led by Altaf Hussain raided the SBCA office after receiving information that some of those allegedly involved in the illegal approval were present on the premises.
However, speaking to the media after the raid, SP Hussain said the police had failed to make any arrests.
He added he had spoken to the SBCA director general and director administration regarding names of personnel involved. When quizzed on the names, he said he was unable to share it at that point so as not to compromise the investigation.
Officials involved
As reported by Aaj News citing sources, the map for Nasla Tower was approved by SBCA Deputy Director Safdar Magsi, with police also raiding his residence without being able to nab him.
Assistant Director Majid Magsi and Director Farhan Qaiser are among at least 28 officials are being investigated in connection with the case, sources added.
Police are also in the process of getting the call records of the officers concerned, sources added.
At the time of approval, Manzoor Qadir Kaka was the director general of SBCA, who is currently believed to be in Canada.
The deputy directors at that time, Nisar Ahmed and Sarfaraz Hasnain are already retired, while Safdar Magsi, who approved the map, is slated to retire next month.
Manzoor Qadir Kaka, meanwhile, is scheduled to retire in February, with sources claiming that he is the one managing the administration and activities of SBCA from Canada.
Sources add that efforts are being made to downplay the role of Safdar Magsi, while sources in the anti-corruption department state that certain political personalities are also being implicated with the widening of the scope of the investigation.
