ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has sought the record of two plots in sector D-13, which were allegedly being transferred fraudulently a few months ago.

       A few months ago, Capital Development Authority (CDA) Deputy Commissioner Sobia Toru informed the security directorate that she came to know that two files of sector D-13 were being transferred with her fake signature.

       Officials from the security directorate raided at different offices and finally found records of both files from the one window operation (OWP). The records have been confiscated, sources said.

       Meanwhile, in an interesting twist, the original files of both plots have been missing from the land directorate. Security officials have pointed out that there was some wrongdoing in both cases.

       Original files missing from CDA's land directorate

       Recently, according to another source, the security directorate got a lead about some other dubious transfers of plots in the said sector and a preliminary probe has been started in this regard.

       It is relevant to note here that a couple of years ago, the security directorate had also confiscated allegedly bogus records of seven plots of sector I-12 from OWP, minutes before their transfers.

       Later on, the cases were referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) but so far surprisingly, a first information report (FIR) has been lodged for just one case.

       It must be mentioned that there are thousands of people whose land was acquired by the civic agency and they are entitled to get plots from it. However, the civic agency after 2017, is not providing due plots to these people and this unofficial ban on allotment of plots to them may be creating opportunities for corrupt officials to take advantage of the situation.

       A number of cases have been filed in lower courts and even before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against CDA by affectees (those whose land was acquired by the authority).

       “I fail to understand why CDA is not clearing plots of people once for all. This issue has been lingering on for decades,” a CDA official said, adding, property dealers in connivance with CDA officials from 2017 to 2020, allegedly got the allotment of hundreds of plots of sector I-12 done with back dated signature. The official said that the security directorate had conducted an inquiry in this regard too in 2020.

       People have been running from pillar to post to get their alternate plots, many of whom, after getting exhausted ended up selling their files (claims of plots) to property dealers who have connections with CDA officials at nominal prices, the officials said.

       During the last few years, balloting was carried out for around 300 people that were affected by land acquisition in sector E-12 while the remaining affectees of this sector and many other sectors have been waiting for their turn for years.

       Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2022