ISLAMABAD: Over 100 Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials are being investigated for corruption by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

According to CDA records presented before the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, which met on Tuesday, FIA is currently pursuing 55 cases against CDA officials.

The nature of the cases vary; from fraudulent allotments of plots, to extortion, the misuse of official positions, official negligence and illegal promotions.

The documents revealed the names of 135 officials accused in 40 inquiries. For the remaining cases, the authority did not include the names of the accused.

Sources said that the remaining 15 cases include dozens of CDA officials accused of corruption. During the meeting, the CDA officials told the committee that other than the FIA cases, the CDA itself conducted 135 inquiries which had been pending for several years.

FIA registered the aforementioned cases over the last four years.

The committee also discussed the demolition of kiosks by the civic authority. While briefing the committee, CDA Member Administration Aamir Ahmed Ali said CDA was in consultation with the Khoka Association to prepare a new policy for kiosks. He said the CDA intended to introduce a uniform design and size for kiosks, and added that genuine licence holders would be accommodated.

Private schools plots

During the meeting, the CDA officials told the committee that the authority allotted 43 plots to private schools against the notional rates during the 1968-2007 period.

Elite schools such as Froebel’s International School, Headstart, Roots Montessori School, Beaconhouse and City School are among the beneficiaries.

Beaconhouse in H-8/1 and City School in H-8 were both allotted their plots against Rs100 per square yard respectively, while Froebel’s purchased its plot against Rs70 per square yard in F-7/2.

Headstart and Roots Montessori were both given prime plots in H-11 against Rs4,500 per square yard.

The committee also touched on the fees set by school owners, but deferred the matter to their next meeting. However, the committee chairperson directed the CDA member planning to submit a report in the next meeting outlining whether these schools follow CDA bylaws.

The committee expressed concern regarding CDA’s negligence toward the completion of the Citizen Club in F-9 Park. CDA Member Engineering Shahid Sohail told the committee that over 70 per cent of the work was completed in 2010, when the Supreme Court ordered a halt in construction. The committee directed the CDA to seek the law ministry’s opinion over the Supreme Court’s directive.