LAHORE
Massive irregularities have been detected in the allocation of five quarters and their extension to the adjacent park in Model Town J Block, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The quarters, each measuring four marlas, were awarded to non-employees and non-members of the Model Town Society (MTS). The occupants were also allowed to extend the boundaries of the quarters to the adjacent parks in J-Block without the approval of the managing committee and against the society’s policy.
The J-Block Welfare Society accused the MTS administration of involvement in the land scam. On May 17, the welfare society had written letters to the Punjab CM, Punjab chief secretary and Punjab Cooperative Society registrar requesting them to look into the matter but nothing had been done so far. According to the letter, the extensions to the boundaries of the quarters would erode 21 marlas of the Green Park.
The quarters, which were only meant for the society employees, were not being used by MTS employees but by non-employees, which was illegal. “The present occupants are the brothers and friends of MTS Managing Committee Member Maqbool Elahi. The occupants included Elahi’s brother Shan Elahi at quarter number 1, Elahi’s brother Imdad Elahi at quarter number 2, Elahi’s brother Altaf Elahi at quarter number 6, Elahi’s friend Chaudhry Muhammad Latif at quarter number 3 and Elahi’s friend Tariq Saeed at quarter number 4,” the letter disclosed.
Muzzamil Zia, resident of J-Block, said that the scam showed the nepotism and abuse of power by the elected members of the MTS. He appealed to higher authorities to cancel the allotments, restore the Green Park and take action against the members who were involved in the scam. Model Town Resident Association President Amir Azam said that an inquiry be held into the matter so that the people involved in the scam could be unmasked.
He said that members of the management involved in the scam be suspended and first information reports (FIR) be registered against the land grabbers and their facilitators. MTS President Colonel (r) Tahir Hussain Kardar rejected all allegations adding that the previous management had allotted the quarters and their extensions.
He said that the present administration had nothing to do with the issue. Kardar said that he could not abolish the allotments made by the previous administration and the MTS Managing Committee would decide the issue.
