CDA halts plot transfers without scrutiny committee’s approval.

ISLAMABAD: Suspecting several new cases of fraudulent plot allotments, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has issued another letter halting plot transfers without the approval of a scrutiny committee.

earthpk.com

A scrutiny committee is supposed to check whether plots are allotted on the basis of genuine documentation and in a transparent manner.

Sources said that up until March, many people used fraudulent means to have plots allotted to them in sectors such as D-13, E-13 and I-12 and, working with land directorate officials, had them transferred. They said these allotments were made using backdated, fake signatures so they appeared to have been made in 2016.

The sources said that people had prime plots, such as those on double roads, allotted to them in these sectors.

They said that when Land Director Shafi Marwat formed a scrutiny committee to check all the documentation on which these allotments were based, some employees who were allegedly involved in the fraud began lobbying against him, the member estate and CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed to prevent the scrutinisation process from taking place.

A CDA official said that there should be no delay in the scrutinisation of cases.

“Unfortunately, it has become a habit for some staffers in the land directorate to create hurdles for genuine allottees as well. The genuine cases should be dealt with as a priority, but action should be taken against fake allotments,” the official said.

According to a June 12 letter issued by the land director, the directorate cannot issue a no-demand certificate (NDC) for the transfer of plots without approval from the scrutiny committee.

The letter has also asked that the one-window operation not entertain any land transfers involving affected people — those whose land has been acquired by the CDA — without approval from the scrutiny committee.

“We are bound to issue NDCs within 28 days. So we welcome everyone to furnish their cases to get NDCs, provided their cases are genuine,” Mr Marwat said, adding that some individuals recently attempted to obtain an NDC while bypassing the scrutiny committee, and the June 12 letter has instructed all staff not to entertain any case without the committee’s involvement.

The CDA Security Directorate also pointed out fraudulent and backdated allotments of more than 300 plots last year.

Based on the directorate’s report, CDA high-ups had begun a formal inquiry into this matter, but sources said that after the inquiry committee was formed no serious effort was made to unearth the racket involved in the allotments, allegedly made on the basis of backdated signatures and forged documents.

In 2017, the CDA formed a policy under which plots would be allotted to affected people — who are entitled to plots in compensation for their land — only through balloting.

Sources said this step upset allegedly corrupt elements within the authority who would allot plots by choice for the money. Following the ban on such allotments, they allegedly started to backdate signatures to avoid balloting.