KARACHI: An inquiry has been launched against twenty senior officials of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) closely linked with former director-general Manzoor Qadir Kaka who is now absconding abroad after being implicated in numerous corruption cases.
The investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been kept under wraps as the anti-corruption watchdog is probing senior officers including ten directors and ten deputy directors for corruption, misuse of power and other corruption offences.
On January 13, the Local Government Board summoned their record. The officers have been instructed to appear on January 20. The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has commenced in own investigation against the officers as part of the investigation to improve governance in Karachi.
The officers were part of the ‘Kaka System’ which ran under the patronage of former SBCA chief and prevented higher authorities from taking any action. Sources revealed NAB headquarters in Islamabad has deployed a team in Karachi which is reportedly probing the matter but has not taken any action yet or made any arrests.
The directors who are being investigated include Muhammad Iqbal, Amir Kamal, Syed Muhammad Zia, Mujahid Abbas, Rehman Bhatti, Mushtaq Ibrahim Soomro, Muhammad Raqib, Ali Ghufran, Beenish Sabir, and Irfran Naqvi.
Whereas the deputy directors being probed includes Muhammad Jalees Siddiqui, Abdul Amir Khan, Faheem Murtaza, Zaigham Haider, Abdul Sajid Khan, Ashfaque Hussain Khokhar, Rashid Hussain, Jameela Jabees, Imran Shaikh and Ali Asad.
The officers allegedly are being supported by a political party and efforts are being underway to stop the probe. Sources said the Secretary Local Government Zammer Abbasi is under intense pressure and could be transferred any moment on the behest of the officers under probe.
