Sindh CM gives evidence for sacking Revenue Minister
Pakistan Times National News Desk

KARACHI: The Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim Friday presented loads of evidence of corruption, land scams and irregularities, which led to the sacking of Provincial Revenue Minister Imtiaz Shaikh justifying that it was a timely action.

Addressing a crowded press conference at the Chief Minister House Friday afternoon he showed different documents claiming the involvement of Revenue Minister in encroachment of hundreds of acres of land.

The crackdown has led to the arrest of 10 persons who have been hauled up by Anti-Corruption Department for carryingout investigations after offices of the minister in question were sealed.

The Director Anti-Corruption, Sultan Khawaja speaking on the occasion said, the revelation that original documents were missing from the record came to light after inquiries were conducted in the matter. He produced photostat copies of the documents, which were used for transfer of lands.

The Sindh Chief Minister disclosed that the sacking decision came after consultations with Sindh cabinet, close political allies and office-bearers of Pakistan Muslim League (N). Since it was a serious issue he had to seek approval of Sindh Governor, which was granted.

He recalled his earlier meetings with officials of National Accountability Bureau pointing out that the government wanted to weed out corruption and action in such cases should prove a deterrent in combating mal-practices in government functioning.

He said that the Anti-Corruption Department is conducting inquiries into three or four such cases, which involved an amount of Rs 3-4 billion singling out former Revenue Minister Altaf Unnar who had a clean slate as there was no proof against him.

The Chief Minister disclosed that the decision of sacking Imtiaz Shaikh came after he received several complaints of land grabbing and encroachments of government land. The land scam was taking place by forging documents of 1936 and that had resulted in the arrest of some persons involved in the cases.

Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim rejected justification of Imtiaz Shaikh that the Land Utilization Department of Board of Revenue had nothing to do with this racket. He pointed out that there has been ban on land allottments on 99 years lease since the time when Mohamamdmian Soomro was the Sindh Governor. And during his stay as Chief Minister not a single acre of land was allotted.

When this correspondent asked whether Imtiaz Shaikh will retain his post as the General Secretary PML(N) Sindh, the Chief Minister replied that it was for the central committee of the party to take any decision in that direction. But in his opinion when all events of corruption are pointing towards Imtiaz Shaikh there is no moral justification for him to retain the post.

When asked whether there was a possibility of Shaikh’s arrest Dr Arbab said that investigations and inquiries into the cases continues and any action on the findings will follow in the light of the minister’s involvement in the scam.

Commenting on several reports appearing in Karachi’s eveningers about the arrest of some members of Sindh cabinet, the Chief Minister said similar sacking could take place if evidence in those cases were unearthed. “I am just following the instructions of President Musharraf that corruption should be completely wiped out and merit should replace,” he added.

Pointing out at the case of Arif Mustafa Jatoi Dr Arbab said the minister was not sacked but resigned but an inquiry is being conducted in his case and if any evidence of corruption is discovered, a similar action will be taken.

He revealed that there were many other proofs of bungling in revenue and as the information spreads many persons are approaching the CM House to provide evidence. One Abdul Latif Shoro informed about the scams regarding 942 acres of land in Bundal island and 121 acres behind Oil Refinery and another piece of land near airport.●