The Sindh High Court (SHC) has delivered a landmark judgment by upholding the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) action to cancel the illegal allotment of 800 acres of prime government land in Karachi. Rejecting petitions filed by private claimants, the court declared that the original allotment was illegal from its very inception, making NAB’s reclamation completely lawful. Dating back to the early 1990s, this multi-billion rupee scandal involved corrupt officials who fraudulently transferred state property to private individuals using forged documents. Over the years, these plots were repeatedly resold for massive profits, despite housing critical public infrastructure such as parks and vital installations for Karachi’s municipal water supply.
Recovery Action & Judicial Verdict Under the leadership of NAB Chairman Lt. Gen. (R) Nazir Ahmad Butt and Deputy Chairman Sohail Nasir, and in close coordination with the Sindh Board of Revenue, the fraudulent records were successfully canceled to restore the property to government ownership. Addressing the petitioners’ defense of being innocent buyers, the High Court firmly ruled that property acquired through an illegal foundation cannot enjoy legal protection. The court dismissed claims that the petitioners were denied a fair hearing and advised them to pursue legal action against the fraudsters who sold them the land, rather than seeking remedies against the state.
Official Stance & Impact Welcoming the verdict, NAB emphasized that the reclaimed land remains strictly reserved for public welfare, green spaces, and essential water infrastructure. The bureau affirmed that strict enforcement against illegal encroachments will continue unabated, framing this ruling as a stern, nationwide warning to the land mafia that stolen public assets will invariably be recovered and restored to the citizens of Pakistan.
