Sanaullah’s plaza mentioned on charge sheet to 11 officials suspended on Jan 7

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

* Relevant records ‘disappeared’ after issue taken up by media
* Official suspended during Sanaullah’s efforts to get commercial status for premises

By Asad Kharal

LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah’s ‘illegal plaza’ on Fane Road was mentioned in a charge sheet issued to 11 officials of the Punjab Local Government Board (PLGB), who were suspended on January 7, 2010 on the charge of illegal construction of buildings and violation of building by-laws, sources told Aaj Kal.

Sources said records of Sanaullah’s plaza and various other illegal buildings had been missing since the issue was picked up by the media and sparked a debate in the Punjab Assembly.

The suspended officials included Muzammal Ishtiaq, former district officer (Special Planning and Commercialisation), who was held responsible for the construction of a four-storey commercial plaza on Fane Road on a residential building plan. The name of the plaza owner, however, is missing from the charge sheet.

Copies of the charge sheet have been sent to the Anti-Corruption Establishment, the Lahore district coordination officer, commissioner and other government departments for action. According to sources, a process was underway to convert Sanaullah’s plaza from residential category to the commercial when Ishtiaq was suspended. An effort was made to reinstate Ishtiaq, but the Local Government and Community Development secretary foiled the attempt. District Officer (Special Planning and Commercialisation) Qamarul Islam told Aaj Kal that Sanaullah did not have the record of this plaza. He said record of various buildings, including Sanaullah’s, had not been transferred to the Town Hall from Data Gunj Buksh Town.

When the Data Gunj Buksh Town administration was contacted, the record of Sanaullah’s plaza was found missing. Another official told Aaj Kal that they had not received any direction about action against Sanaullah’s plaza from the senior officials. He said the fate of the plaza, whether it should be commercialised or razed, could only be determined after a survey.