KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday directed the National Accountability Bureau to complete its investigation into alleged allotment of plots of land by a former secretary and others within 45 days and get their computerised national identity cards (CNICs) blocked if they did not cooperate.

While hearing bail applications filed by land utilisation department`s former secretary Ghulam Mustafa Phul and others, a two-judge bench of the SHC, headed by Chief Justice Ahmed All M. Shaikh, came down hard on NAB for prolonging the investigation and observed that the delays in completion of the investigation raised various questions.

A NAB prosecutor informed the court that four inquiries were pending against Mr Phul and others for allegedly allotting 265 acres of land and 276 plots in Malir district through illegal ways.

Replying to a court query, the law officer contended that the alleged illegal lease had caused loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer and sought time to complete the probe.

The bench granted 45-day time to NAB to complete the investigation and submit the progress report and also directed the anti-graft watchdog to get the CNICs of the suspects blocked through Nadra if they did not cooperate with the investigators.

Meanwhile, another bench of the SHC directed on Wednesday the provincial police officer and director of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation`s antiencroachment department to take action against those cabins selling gutka and mainpuri.