KARACHI: On the complaint of senior PPP leader and former Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain, Sindh Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah took notice of the bribery and extortion by the Sindh Building Control Authority officials and employees.

Nasir Shah directed Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) Director General Yaseen Shar Baloch to immediately initiate inquiry against the accused involved in such malpractices.

Following to the minister’s directives, DG Sindh Building Control Authority Yaseen Shar Baloch lodged an FIR against the five accused at Preedy Police Station and issued suspension notification of five senior SBCA officials namely Engineer Syed Ovais Hussain Assistant Director, Engineer Syed Umair Kareem Senior Building Inspector, Muhammad Amin, Senior Building Inspector, Zafar Iqbal Senior Building Inspector and Zia-ur-Rehman, Building Inspector.

According to the details cited by the police officials, five suspects have allegedly demanded bribe of Rs 4 million from the builder, owner of the building being constructed at the Plot No.15PR-2, M.A.Jinnah Road, Karachi.  Three suspects out of five have been apprehended by the police while two culprits are still at large.

Moreover, DG SBCA has also formed three-member committee to investigate the matter, in which Director of Grade 20 Beneesh Shabbir has been made the Chairman of the committee while two other Director Ali Mehdi Kazmi and Deputy Director Jalees Siddiqui will act as a members of the probe committee.

DG SBCA also directed the probe body to submit the detailed report with 15-day time duration.

The case has been registered under ATA (Anti-Terrorism Act) Section 7 and instances of extortion against suspects at Preedy Police Station. FIR No. 485/2023 on 22.6.2023.

Published in The Daily National Courier, June, 24 2023

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.