DHA defending scammers

[Salman]

LAHORE -


The Defence Housing Authority (DHA) is reluctant to provide land record of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) to FIA, which is investigating a staggering land scam told sources in the ETPB.
According to sources, investigators have issued notices to the DHA management to provide record but no avail. The record collected from the ETPB revealed that there was 4,259-Kanals and 11-marlas land at Village Dera Chahal, Motasinghwala and Lider, Tehsil Lahore Cantt and owned by ETPB. Village-wise land detail is as follows: Dera Chahal 244-K & 15-M, Motasinghwala 862-K & 1-M and Lidher1152-K & 15-M.
During initial probe of FIA, investigators claimed that due to the absence of complete record of DHA, it was not possible to give conclusive recommendations.
However, as per available record from ETPB, approval granted by the Board for the exchange of land without considering terms and conditions etc. opens scope and authority for the Chairman ETPB to be probed further.
The plea of members of the board is yet to be recorded for which formal notices have been issued to them.
The Probe report says that the Federal Government also granted approval without determining terms and conditions i.e total land, location, survey/price report etc. which also needs thorough probe as the plea of the concerned officers/official of Ministry of Minorities (now defunct) is yet to be recorded.
Apparently, it seems that the Draft Agreement should have been forwarded to the Controlling Ministry/Ministry of Law & Justice Division for vetting (DHA’s version of the concerned Ministry is yet to be recorded).
ET Land situated at Dera Chahal, Motasinghwala and Mauza Lidher has agricultural status in books but due to tremendous increase in population and development by DHA Lahore, the status of the said land has become urban property due to the fact that it is surrounded by developed scheme of DHA, Lahore and others. This matter is also required to be probed whether any commission/kick backs /personal gains have been obtained or not.
FIA probe report revealed that registry expenses amounting to Rs39,189,600 initially borne by the ETPB instead of DHA and subsequently reimbursed to ETPB by DHA after period of one and half month needs to be probed. Similarly expenditures incurred by DHA Lahore as per their claim for vacation of land from the land grabbers/occupants also needs thorough probe.
Record pertaining to the allegations of illegal allotments of plot to officers/officials of Ministry of Minorities has been obtained which is under scrutiny, report further maintained.
As per record regarding illegal leasing of Gurdwara Land situated at Ghas Mandi, Sahiwal was obtained. Scrutiny of the same revealed that Property No.518-519/B-IV measuring to 1-K & 13-M belongs to Hindu Mat Singh Saba Mandir.
The inquiry is under probe. FIA intends to get the said land evaluated through a reliable, credible and reputable Evaluator i.e NFSPAK etc. in order to determine the actual price of the said land at the relevant time. Letters/Notices have been issued to Defence Housing Authority Lahore for provision of the requisite record which is still awaited despite issuance of reminders. The remaining large amount of record is yet to be collected from DHA, FTPB and Revenue Office of concerned circles to reach at a just conclusion, said an investigator seeking anonymity.