Multan connection in NA housing scam

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

ISLAMABAD: Another land grabbing scam involving over Rs2 billion in the National Assembly Housing Society has been unearthed by a NA Parliamentary Committee and key characters indicted happen to have Multan connection.

The investigation conducted by none else than the parliamentary committee of the Assembly has discovered alleged involvement of Shahid Hussain Gilani and Tariq Khakwani besides 10 other officials in a land scandal of Rs350 million in cash and bogus allotments of 1000 plots costing a minimum of Rs 2 billion. These findings come at a time when several other men from Multan are facing corruption charges in the courts of law. Among them are sacked minister for religious affairs, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, his federal secretary Agha Sarwar Raza Qazalbash, ex-DG Haj Rao Shakil, former Director Land of CDA, Dr. Wasim Shamshad and former ICT Chief Commissioner Fazeel Asghar.

Shahid Gilani has been indicted for multiple charges. Among them are purchase of land that was either outside the proposed layout plan, or located at scattered places that was acquired at exorbitant prices.

In no instance, the business rules were followed and deposited amount against the membership was also withdrawn by him through transferring this record on his own name. While Gilani was brokering shady deals, Tariq Khakwani, was making payments forconsultancy, purchase of land, and to the staff appointed for the Society but without advertising the positions.

In another land scandal, Dr Wasim Shamshad, Director Land, Capital Development Authority, is facing allegations of making bogus allotments of 1,000 plots and several agro farms in the federal capital area. This alleged architect of CDA’s land fraud also hailed from Multan who was appointed by the in the CDA some two years back.

According to earlier reports, Wasim Shamshad’s strength that brought him to the federal capital despite some pending inquiries against him in the Punjab Anti-corruption department was his Multan connection.

Likewise, in the mega Haj corruption scandal, all the roads led to Multan. The sacked Minister for Religious Affairs, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, the recently-removed Secretary Religious Affairs Agha Sarwar Raza Qazlibash and ex-DG Haj Rao Shakil are have known Multan connection. This troika has been held responsible for the 2009 Haj operation, which according to the government’s own report involved corruption of billions of rupees.

In famous Haris Steel Mills case, the owner who had acquired billions of rupee loan from Bank of Punjab in violation of rules, was fled abroad allegedly by former ICT Chief Commissioner Fazeel Asghar, again having Multan connection. Sheikh Afzal, the owner of the Steel Mill and key accused, had told the Court that Fazeel had him fled abroad from Lahore Airport in return of five million rupees.