Despite the provincial chief minister’s imposing a ban on lifting sand and gravel (reti and bajri) in the Malir district around two years ago, influential politicians are continuing their reti, bajri businesses without any fear and also removing all “roadblocks” in their way through their political clout, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Well-placed sources in the Sindh government told Pakistan Today that recently an honest high-ranking official was suspended when he tried to stop the illegal lifting of sand and gravel from the banned areas of the city but the owners of the illegal businesses, including Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan and Adviser to Chief Minister on Mines and Mineral Imamuddin Shauqeen, displayed their power.
The involvement of influentials, with the patronage of area police, surfaced when the director general of the Sindh Mines and Minerals Development Department – unaware of the political clout of the owners of illegal businesses – took action.
Knowing that Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah had banned lifting reti, bajri from Malir district, Sindh Mines and Minerals Development Department Director General Rasool Bux Samejo had issued a letter, directing the authorities concerned to immediately stop the theft of sand and gravel from the Malir district, including a vast area of Gadap.
“The director general, however, had to loose his job as the Sindh Mines and Mineral Development Secretary Shahid Gulzar Shaikh – who also runs two lifting “blocks” of reti, bajri in Malir – issued him a suspension letter,” the sources said.
The official was suspended on January 1 and is being denied posting in any government department due to the continued political interference of an influential PPP senator, Wasan and Shauqeen.
“The politicians are running their illegal business near the Ansari Pull on Karachi-Hyderabad Super Highway and in the Malir River bed, causing great loss to the natural beauty of the area and badly-affecting the water table in the Malir area,” the sources said.
Mines and Mineral Development police station SHO Inspector Naeem told Pakistan Today that the director general had forwarded a letter for stopping the theft of reti and bajri from Malir district. “We went to the sites and stopped the illegal business but you are a reporter and know more about who is involved.”
When approached for comments, Shauqeen – in an aggressive tone – said that he was an industrialist owning more than 12 industries. “Whatever information you have, you can file the story as I am not a man doing corruption for a few hundred thousand rupees,” he said. “I am even working without pay as an adviser.”
Despite repeated calls to Wasan for his comments, Pakistan Today could not contact him as his cell phone remained unattended.
