KARACHI, July 20: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday granted interim pre-arrest bail to Maqbool Ahmed Sheikh, brother of the sacked provincial revenue minister Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh, in two corruption cases. Maqbool Sheikh was named co-accused, with his brother and revenue officials in corruption cases. He is accused, along with others, of forgery in revenue record, fraud, facilitation to land grabbers, abuse of official position and causing huge loss to the government.

Seeking pre-arrest bail before court, applicant counsels Rasheed A Rizvi and Irfan Memon submitted that their client had been implicated the behest of the Sindh chief minister who had political rivalry with him.

They submitted that the applicant wanted to surrender before the court and prayed the court to grant him pre-arrest bail. Maqbool Ahmed Sheikh appeared before the court.

SHC’s single bench, comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim, after hearing arguments of counsel granted pre-arrest bail to Maqbool Sheikh till July 26in two corruption cases, pending in Anti-Corruption Court, with surety of Rs200,000 each.

The court also issued notice to Special Prosecutor Raza Hashmi.

KBCA: A division bench of the High Court of Sindh (SHC), comprising Justice Muhammad Mujeebullah Siddiqui and Justice Zia Pervez, on Wednesday admitting a constitutional petition restrained the KBCA from approving regularization plan in respect of a building constructed allegedly in violation of KBCA rules and regulations.

Syed Jameel Ahmed, appearing for the petitioner Haroon, submitted that respondent Asim who inherited the plot from his deceased mother Rasheeda Khatoon has constructed ground-plus-two floors besides a pent house in clear violation of building rules and regulations.

The counsel submitted that Rasheeda Khatoon passed away in Nov 2003 while regularization plan was submitted purportedly bearing her signatures on June 16. The fraud was being played upon, he alleged.

The bench, after hearing the counsel for petitioner, admitted the petition for regular hearing and ordered the KBCA not to approve regularization plan till disposal of the petition.

The same bench also put off hearing of a contempt application filed by Abdul Aziz Ashrafi who claimed that the city government encroached upon a plot allotted to his mother, in order to construct a flyover on Shahrah-i-Quaideen. EDO Law rebutting the contention, submitted that the land was handed over to the city government by the Cantonment Board.

REMAND DENIED: Justice Amir Hani Muslim of the Sindh High Court, who is also the administrative judge of the Anti-Terrorism Courts for Karachi Division, on Wednesday refused a remand request by the Korangi Industrial Area Police in respect of an accused booked on charge of creating religious hatred.—PPI/APP