Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has charged his erstwhile Cabinet colleague Imtiaz Sheikh with tempering of revenue record, land grabbing, accepting illegal gratification, forcible encroachment of plots of destitute, widows and orphans and gross corruption in day-to-day dealing with people. The Chief Minister was addressing a hurriedly called press conference at the Chief Minister House on Friday to give reasons for sacking to Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh.
Rahim said that he had a proof against Imtiaz Shaikh, sacked provincial minister for revenue and political affairs and general secretary of the PML Sindh, who had been amassing wealth through the corrupt means.
He said that Shaikh had brought disgrace to Sindh government, adding that thorough probe into assets, acts and wrongdoing of Shaikh had been ordered and the findings would be made public.
Rahim said that before initiating action against Shaikh high-ups of the Pakistan Muslim League were taken into confidence. They were told all about his activities and after a careful consideration action was taken against him.
"He should have been removed much earlier but in the hope of seeing him a different man always deferred the decision," he added.
He said that his government would not tolerate corrupt ministers. If others were found misfit on any account, they would face similar action, he added.
Arbab said that Shaikh's corrupt deeds came to light when he was caught tempering with revenue documents of 1929 to 1936. He transferred land illegally to his favourites. Besides, he was behind the illegal plots belonging to widows, orphans and handicapped, he added. Giving some more details, the Chief Minister said that Shaikh had allegedly transferred about 14 acres of land located behind the Bundo Khan Restaurant to one of his domestic servants Abdul Latif Noon. The price of the land was shown as Rs 7,26,250 whereas the actual value of the land was Rs 120 million.
The chief minister said that there were proofs against the sacked minister of illegally allotting 942 acres of land, besides 221 acres of land near seashore and 250 acres industrial plot worth about Rs 500 million at Ibrahim Haidery. He said that once the inquiry had been completed his arrest would be considered.
To a question, the chief minister said that Arif Jatoi was not sacked. He had resigned on his own. However, an inquiry against him on alleged charges of corruption was underway.
The Chief Minister said: "We have also arrested about 10 people in different cases of the corruption and probe against them was in progress. The corrupt people were involved in occupying about 3,000-4,000 acres of land worth three to five billion rupees through the fake documentation." Rahim said that Imtiaz Shaikh had been instrumental in creating the law and order situation in Sindh. He is an agitator and trouble monger.
He said that during the meeting of Nisar Memon there was a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club. Shaikh had arranged that demonstration. He had also created awkward situation when President General Pervaiz Musharraf was in the city, he added.
Rahim claimed that President Musharraf had expressed his disapproval over questionable activities of Imtiaz Shaikh.
The Chief Minister also brushed aside 'as rumours' all news about his departure from the office.
Political sources when contacted after the press conference said that Rahim was likely to be replaced by a nominee of Pir Sahib Pagara. "An experienced parliamentarian, who knows all about the CM House politics, is likely to replace him."
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