KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday sought the details of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Anti-Corruption Department inquiries against officials of the forest department.
A two-member bench of the SHC headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar heard a citizen’s plea against deforestation.
During the hearing, both the counsel for petitioner Qazi Ali Athar and forest department official Abdul Jabbar levelled allegations at each other.
The counsel of Qazi Ali Athar told the court that officials of the forest department were giving him life threats and telling him to withdraw the case. He said that he had approached the Sindh chief secretary for protection against the life threats but no any inquiry was conducted.
The bench remarked that the counsel, being an advocate, should have lodged a first information report (FIR) if he was being threatened.
The bench also lashed out at the forest department’s conservation officer who allegedly gave the life threats, asking him how he dared to threaten an advocate?
The official told the court that he had done so after the advocate threatened him first.
The bench expressed annoyance at both parties and directed both to lodge FIRs against each other.
It then inquired who had issued the budget and permission for restructuring?
The petitioner said that corrupt officials were benefited by carrying out reorganisation in the department and the department was illegally divided into three parts.
The counsel told the court that according to the law, there should be one conservation officer, however, two more officials have been appointed for the slot.
The court adjourned the hearing till January 16.
