- Former Sindh minister accused of tax evasion, bribe and misuse of power
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) bigwig and former Sindh minister for local governments Sharjeel Inam Memon, who has announced his return to the country to face the multi-billion corruption cases lodged against him, is likely to face many multi-million corruption cases too, it has been learnt.
According to sources, Memon has been accused of receiving kickbacks in an infrastructure development project, massive tax evasion, hefty bribe and misuse of power.
Memon will be returning to the country by the end of this month to face what he claimed false and fabricated cases against him. He had made the announcement about his return after an accountability court recently issued his non-bailable warrants to ensure his appearance before it on October 19.
A few days back, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) brought a reference against Memon and 10 others which was admitted for hearing by the local accountability court. Also, his name has been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) on the request of the NAB.
RS580M EMBEZZLEMENT IN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT:
The former minister had allocated Rs 580 million for the construction of road infrastructure in Safoora Goth, but no work was carried out, as the funds just went into the pockets of the minister and Karachi administrator under a fifty-fifty formula. The embezzlement came to the limelight after terrorists attacked a bus in Safoora Goth, killing 45 members of Ismaili community. Investigators, in a report, claimed the terrorists had chosen this area because of its poor road network.
A day after the tragedy, former Karachi administrator Saqib Soomro, showing little honesty, spent Rs 1 million for the carpeting of roads in the area, but soon went abroad since he knew he could be arrested in the light of findings into the tragic incident.
According to sources, the former administrator is enjoying a lavish life in Germany at present, while Memon is in Dubai for the past few months for what he calls medical treatment.
CORRUPTION OF MILLIONS OF RUPEES IN LG DEPT:
Memon had also been accused of tax evasion of millions of rupees in city’s Local Government Department. A few months ago, the city was covered in billboards owned by Memon’s close aides. However there was no record of tax payment of nearly half of the billboards installed because these were put up illegally.
Memon was also accused of collecting hefty bribe in assignment of billboards to interested candidates. It was said that there were a lot of complaints of some genuine owners that their billboards were removed over non-payment of bribe to Memon.
Sources said that all of the billboards which were installed on the directives of the former minister unlawfully had been removed in a campaign launched by the Local Governments Department.
When contacted, NAB Deputy Director Muhammad Zameer Abbasi claimed that the Bureau had not received any file about corruption against Memon from any institution so far.
