‘Embezzlements’ in LDA Employees Housing Scheme irk PA

[Salman]

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday showed intent to constitute a parliamentary committee to examine allegations of corruption rampant in the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Employees Housing Scheme raised by a treasury member.
The session began with Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan in the chair. Taking strict notice of corruption allegations of massive embezzlement in the accounts of LDA Employees Housing Scheme raised by treasury member, Ayesha Javed, the chair pledged to form a parliamentary committee on the proposal of the minister concerned.
Ayesha Javed highlighted the issue of “embezzlements” and allotment of “unapproved” plots at the LDA Employees Housing Scheme during the question hour. She asked that under what law the LDA continues to allot plots in its Employees Housing Scheme without getting it approved from relevant departments.
Responding to the query, Cooperatives Minister Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar acknowledged that “misappropriations” were going on in the LDA Housing Scheme. He maintained that some former army officials besides LDA officials and influential government officers were involved in “unlawful” distribution of plots in the LDA Employees Housing Scheme. He also maintained that “by-laws” were being used for this purpose. He went on to say that all of his efforts to purge the scheme of malpractices had gone in vain.
He proposed and the speaker approved the formation of parliamentary body to hold accused individuals accountable.
He estimated that over Rs 170 million had been embezzled in the LDA Employees Housing Scheme.
During the question hour, PML-Q MPA Mian Tariq Mehmood said that rules had been violated in appointment of officers in the information department in Gujrat District, asking Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture Rana Arshad to explain the misappropriations.
Rana Arshad said that selection criteria had been prescribed in a press law which he would like to share with the House in the coming days. Meanwhile, the parliamentary secretary requested the House to consider amendments in by-laws for establishing clear selection criterion.
On a point of order, PPP MPA Sardar Shahabuddin Khan said that absence of the chief minister was “disgraceful” to the “sacredness” of the House. He also condemned the attitude of treasury while answering opposition’s queries.
He said that treasury members should have learned a lesson out of sit-ins being held in the federal capital. He also requested the speaker not to accept the resignation of PTI members. As a protest against attitude of the treasury, he walked out of the House.
The House also unanimously adopted a resolution regarding Pakistani media ethics. The resolution questioned media ethics in case of portrayal of women victims of violence in the electronic media. The House observed that government should put a ban on portraying victimised women.
The House also unanimously called for strict government measures to tackle drug addiction among youths. PPP MPA Sardar Shahabuddin Khan tabled the resolution. Later, the session was adjourned until Wednesday (today) morning.