KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday filed comments in the Sindh High Court on a bail application of the detained commissioner of Shaheed Benazirabad.

The former secretary land utilisation department Ghulam Mustafa Phull, currently postedas commissioner of Shaheed Benazirabad, and others have been facing trial before an accountability court for their alleged involvement in the illegal conversion of 70 acres of industrial land to residential/commercial purpose in Korangi in 2011.

He landed in prison last month after the Supreme Court dismissed his ball application.

Earlier he had fled from the prem-ises of the SHC after a division bench had turned down his identical application.

The former secretary, through his lawyer, moved a post-arrest bail application and argued that there was no intent or mens rea on the part of the applicant since these were procedural lapses.

However, a law officer of NAB filed a written reply in which the anti-graft watchdog contendedthat the applicant had made unauthorised conversion of the land.

Therefore, a reference was filed against him and others and the trial is pending before an accountability court.

After taking NAB`s comments on record, a two-judge bench of SHC headed by Justice Khadim Hussain M. Shaikh, directed the counsel for the applicant to file rejoinder till Aug 13.