Investigation launched into corruption of ex-KMC leaders

KARACHI: The concerned authorities have launched an investigation against the alleged corruption by the former Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) elected leadership.

According to relevant sources, commercial fairs continued to be held in Frere Hall despite the end of the local body leadership’s tenure. Sources have informed that the corrupt officers, with allegedly illegal orders, were receiving money for China Cutting and distribution of lands.

Such officials include the mayor’s representative Rehan Ali, Adeel, and Danish, Deputy Mayor’s staff Hassan and Junaid, government officials Masood Alam, Mazhar Khan, Jamil Farooqi, and Matin Siddiqui, finance officers, Farid Tajik, and Imran Rajput.

Sources further informed that more than Rs 30 million was received in this regard.  Efforts were made to distribute the vacant lands of Old Sabzi Mandi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulshan-e-Noor and Orangi among relatives and political personalities.

Sources informed that ex-Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar asked the local government leadership to allot a 3200-yard land in Orangi to his cousin Kanwar Hassan Masood.

Informed sources also claimed that the local government leadership allegedly used the anti-encroachment department to blackmail large corporations in a bid to receive huge bribes.  

Sources claimed that the former mayor, deputy mayor, and chairman of Katchi Abadi also compelled the former Project Director Rizwan Khan in a bid to occupy the prime lands of Orangi which were relinquished earlier.