Who is Owais ‘Tappi’? Wonders SC

By
Azam Butt
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12
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The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursdays served notices on Owais Muzaffar “Tappi” and Revenue Senior Member Shazar Shamon, summoning both men on the next hearing of the matter regarding implementation of the court’s verdict in Karachi unrest case.

The apex court issued the orders while conducting hearing in respect of revenue matters in the case on Thursday at its Karachi Registry.

The bench is led by Justice Anwar Zahir Jamali and comprises Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani, Justice Gulzar Ahmad and Justice Athar Saeed.

Tappi is considered one of President Asif Ali Zardari’s closest aides and has been widely known as being a key power player in the Lyari gang wars.

Justice Sarmad Usmani was visibly frustrated as he remarked, “Who is this Tappi and why has no one filed an FIR against him yet?”

The petitioner Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi told the court that Tappi was “ruling” Sindh through Board of Revenue senior member.

Tappi is step-brother of President Asif Ali Zardari and behind the scene chief minister of Sindh, Naqvi claimed.

The petitioner said these people were involved in selling lands and inflicting losses to the national exchequer.

Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani said everyone talked about Tappi and asked Shazar Shamon if he knew Tappi.

Shamon replied in negative. He, however, acknowledged that he had heard the name in the media.

Naqvi told the court that over 150 cases stood registered against Tappi, Shazar Shamon and others and they were accused of causing losses of billions of rupees to the national kitty.

He took the plea that Tappi had unleashed loot and plunder spree in connivance with revenue officers, including Yar Muhammad Bozdar, Hammad Chachar, Manzoor Ali, Aftab Pathan and Shazar Shamon.

Justice Khilji Arif Hussain remarked, “Everyone has one’s dignity and prestige. Has he (Naqvi) any evidence against these people,” he inquired.

Naqvi said he would prove the allegations.

“Owais Tappi and Yar Muhammad Bozdar are minting money by using fake stamps of State Bank of Pakistan. These people got regularised the land at the rate of Rs 10,000 per acre along the National HighWay, which cost Rs 30 million per acre,” Naqvi submitted.

Yawar Farooqi, counsel for Board of Revenue, told the court that revenue record of 874 out of 6,000 villages in Sindh was burnt following riots after the killing of Benazir Bhutto and the record was being reconstructed.

Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani remarked that land was being leased out for the periods of 99 years without auction.

The bench then issued notice for Tappi and Shamoon to appear before the court on accusations of massive corruption in sale of government property and adjourned the hearing till today (Friday).

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12 COMMENTS

    • This is the tragic misfortune of this country to have accidental corrupt robbers rule them by default and as consequence get Pakistan declared the most terror prone nation of the world second only to Iraq.

  4. Every Pakistani would do the same thing if they had the oppurtunity to do so. Most commentators here are jealous because they don't have the same oppurtunity to mint money like Zardari and the gang. Instead of hating Zardari and his cronies, people of Pakistan should work hard towards creating the same oppurtunities for themselves.

  8. It is fun time for the Z-rd-ri clan. Loot as much as you can. Time is running out. Nothing will happen, so why worry. Hire good lawyers and a P R firm who will declare you a philanthropist

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