- Gunslinging land director admits ‘irregularities’
ISLAMABAD: Despite the formation of new SOP for land compensation by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), officials of the land department are continuing their illegal double allotments, costing the CDA millions of rupees.
An inquiry into the alleged corruption and double allotment conducted on the directions of Islamabad Mayor and Chairman CDA, Sheikh Anser Aziz, revealed that despite following the new standard operating procedure (SOP) with computerized system for land compensation to affectees, land directorate officials have managed to give illegal favours by allotting precious pieces of land to the affectees who are already compensated in the past.
The inquiry findings revealed that the land directorate has allotted plot no. 1683 to Gustasab son of Balaki under the new policy in I-11/2, whereas he was already compensated and given plot no. 125 in Chak Shahzad earlier.
Similarly, Saparas son of Balaki, who was compensated with plot no. 75 in Chak Shahzad is now again compensated with plot 1582, I-11/2.
Likewise, Legal Heirs of Sabir son of Sumandar was given plot no. 79 in Chak Shahzad is again compensated with plot no. 1548 in I-11/2.
Mazhar Hussain son of Sumandar Khan was also given compensated plot no. 82 in Chak Shahzad has once again given plot no. 631 in I-11/2.
Legal heirs of Shoukat Ali, son of Qaim Ali was given plot no. 90 in Chak Shahzad but he too was again compensated with plot no. 832 in I-12/2.
It is pertinent to mention that all the aforementioned allotments were made between late 1990’s and early 2000’s. And, all the fresh compensations were balloted against the rules, laws and prescribed SOP.
Sources privy to the development said that the officials of land and affectees directorate are openly demanding millions of rupees for this undue favours, and for ensuring enlistment of affectee[s] name in the computerized balloting.
“These favours were given in the computerized CDA balloting smartly, under the new policy in August, as the affectees greased the palms of land directorate officials with three million rupees for each case of illegal-double allotment,” they said.
The source further added that it has been observed by the authority that affectees of the same Mouza’s were treated, and compensated differently in different sectors, i.e. I-11, and I-12, according to the size of their bribe.
Dozens of cases have also emerged where affectees deserving plots measuring 25×50 were compensated with 30×60, illegally.
Some sources in the estate wing said that the Land director is always armed.
“He [IrfanUllah] was seen showing pistol to the affectees, and subordinates while directing them for some kind of work in his office, and security directorate shut their eyes over this, due to which people are being harassed and feel threatened,” they said.
When contacted, Director Land, Irfan Ullah admitted that the said plots were given to those affectees who are already compensated, and he termed it a ‘minor-error’.
“Plots are just balloted not allotted; they are not just five but more than dozen plots which are balloted to the affectees, who are already compensated in the past, by error, and it is in the authority’s knowledge and it would be cancelled soon,” he claimed.
He also added that he carried ammunition on him due to family enmity and that he was on the Taliban’s hit list because of his activist uncle.
The question arises that how a computerized balloting could be made errors, and if so, then it could be in more cases than mentioned, and it needs proper investigation.
It is noted that the State Minister for Capital Administration Development Division (CADD), Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry had barred the civic agency’s land department from allotting land in the second week of May last year, amidst massive corruption complaints.
Then, Mayor Islamabad took charge of CDA Chief in September 2016. The letter, he said that CDA made strict SOP, which is a comprehensive policy to avoid irregularities which were carried out while allotting land in the past.
Director Land said that when the ban was lifted by the incumbent management with the introduction of new SOP, the directorate was told to accommodate the affectees, who were listed by the former DDG Land, Abdul Salam Shah, but after re-vetting, and proper probe. And, unfortunately, or maybe deliberately, already accommodated affectees were compensated.
Meanwhile, some affectees told Pakistan Today that the said official is taking bribes openly without any fear of the giving legal favour.
The official of land directorate added that there are some parliamentarians and influential political personalities including Deputy Speaker National Assembly, and CADD Minister, among the investors who are involved in using arm-twisting techniques from the platform of parliamentary panels to pressurise the CDA.
The inquiry findings had been sent to Islamabad Mayor cum Chairman CDA with the recommendations to investigate all the recent balloted plots to find committed irregularities. And, till then, the process of balloting may be barred. However, the matter is pending with the competent authority, CDA chief.