24 July 2004	Saturday	06 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, July 23: The record pertaining to an agricultural plot transferred in the name of President Gen Pervez Musharraf in the federal capital's rural area was placed before the National Assembly on Friday.

The latest information placed before the lower house of the parliament by the interior ministry revealed that the five acres agriculture plot was transferred in the name of President Musharraf on September 4, 2003, by Mrs Riffat Jamil, widow of the late Jamil Nishtar.

The interior ministry while responding to a question by MNA Hanif Abbassi of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) told the House that the agriculture plot number C-1/B, P&V Scheme-II, Park Road, Tarlai Klan, Chak Shahzad was transferred in the name of Gen Musharraf.

The market value of the plot is estimated in millions and this is an addition to the assets declared by President Musharraf in November 1999. The property declared by the President in 1999 included a house in Army Housing Scheme, Karachi; another 2000 square yards in DHA, Karachi, two kanals in Morgah Housing Scheme, Rawalpindi; one-and-a-half kanal in Army Welfare Trust Housing Scheme, Peshawar; eight marlas in LCCHS, Lahore; and two-square agriculture land in Bahawalpur (now sold).

Besides these assets, President Musharraf had declared family property including a parents' house in F-7/3, Islamabad, daughter's house in DHA (Defence), Karachi, a one-kanal plot in Eastridge Scheme and two kanals in Sangar Housing Scheme, Gwadar, Balochistan.

The interior ministry statement showing the scheme-wise plots transferred during 2003-04 also revealed that the director-general, Inter-Services Intelligence, transferred two plots measuring 2.5 acres each during January and April 2004.

The National Assembly was informed that the ISI DG transferred the 2.5-acre plot 11-A, Orchard Scheme, Murree Road Islamabad, to Mrs Irum Zaman, wife of Babar Zaman on January 24, 2004.

The ISI chief transferred the second 2.5-acre plot 11 Orchard Scheme, Murree Road Islamabad, to Babar Zaman, son of Mr Iqbal Ahmed, on April 22, 2004. Just two days later, Mr Zaman transferred plot number 11 to Allya Amar Abbassi, wife of Mr Amar Abbasi on April 24, 2004.

In the written response to the question the interior ministry did not clarify if the plots were being used for residential purposes and if any action taken for violation of CDA rules.

The interior ministry in its reply said: "For the maintenance and management of agro farming units, facilities (manager's residence, office block, kitchen/canteen with toilet, servant block, tractor/trolley room, guard room) with adequate covered area are allowed."

The list of allottees placed before the lower house showed that a total of 28 plots were transferred during 2003-04. During the question hour, the members from both the treasury and the opposition questioned the transfer of agriculture plot to President Musharraf and sale of the plot by the ISI DG.

The ruling party MNA, Rasheed Akbar Khan, said when the politicians bought the plots they were prosecuted for being corrupt but no one dared to talk about "these plots". The parliamentary secretary for interior, Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel, found it difficult to answer supplementary questions from the opposition benches.

When veteran parliamentarian Mehmood Khan Achakzai asked for the identity of the ISI director-general in whose name a couple of plots had been transferred, the parliamentary secretary requested Mr Achakzai to put up a fresh question so that the details could be gathered.

MNA Aitzaz Ahsan asked the interior ministry to clarify if the two plots shown in the name of ISI chief were owned by the institution or by the individual heading the intelligence outfit.

Mr Aitzaz said if the plots were in the name of the institution, then how was it that they were transferred to an individual. He also asked for details about Irum Zaman and Babar Zaman to be placed before the House.

PML-N MNAs Abid Sher Ali and Kishan Bhel asked for the names of all the military generals who were allotted plots to be placed before the National Assembly. MNA Rauf Mengal asked the Speaker to form a committee to probe the issue of sale and purchase of the plots.