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KARACHI, Jan 01 (APP): National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Karachi conducted a comprehensive investigation and uncover a massive scheme involving the illegal encroachment, embezzlement, and fraudulent sale of approximately 250 acres of state land, amounting to Rs 750 million, the land located on Super Highway in Deh Kohistan, Thatta.
The land was fraudulently used to launch the “Coco Green Housing Scheme.
The inquiry reveals that the revenue record was fabricated, forged stamps and non-existent sale deed spanning over two decades. The findings indicate that the entire documentation of the housing scheme’s land claim is built upon bogus and managed documents.
The investigation meticulously traced the chain of title presented by the management of the Coco Green and found every critical link to be fraudulent and based upon forged documents.
The investigation further reveals that the initial entry No. 58/35 from March 1994 of land purchase was made without any prior legitimate entry in the record of rights (ROR). The said entry was based on mere oral statement and allegedly recorded on a specific page in the official Book of Statements which investigation confirmed does not exist.
A subsequent entry of 1996 was based on a registered sale deed. However, both the Microfilming Unit in Hyderabad and the Sub-Registrar office in Thatta confirmed that this specific deed (Serial No. 16, registration No. 14) was neither microfilmed nor any record of the said exist.
An entry in July 2007 was made to change the nature of land using a forged “Ghat Wadh Form”, however, investigation confirmed that the said was not issued by the Survey and Settlement Department government of Sindh.
Another entry was made in January 2018 for converting the land from agriculture to non-agricultural use was also made without the mandatory signature of the Mukhtiarkar. Furthermore, investigation also unveiled that the then-Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Thatta signed the documents which is highly questionable, as officials record confirms the AC was in the custody of NAB on the date of the signature which was made on alleged documents. The investigation also confirmed through the provincial land record management system (LARMIS) that no official record exists of the alleged 250 acres of land.
Most alarmingly, the investigation has uncovered that the management of Coco Green Housing Society opened at least two bank accounts in the society’s name. These accounts have been used to collect Rs.68 million from general public.
Shakeel Ahmed Durrani, DG NAB (Karachi), reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment for recovering looted money and state land from the illegal occupiers and such elements shall be brought to book without any fear or favour.
He further said that under the vision of Chairman NAB, Lieutenant General (R) Nazir Ahmed, NAB Karachi remains committed to combating corruption and corrupt practices with dedication and professionalism and for this purpose a separate Land Directorate has been established to deal with such cases specifically in future.
This move demonstrates NAB Karachi’s resolve to hold corrupt officials accountable and recover ill-gotten gains for the benefit of the public and the state.