ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has asked the Capital Development Authority (CDA) what its rules and procedures are for the allotment of land for mosques, in an ongoing inquiry against former housing minister Akram Durrani.

In an official letter dated Sept 13, NAB investigation officer Mohammad Adeel Akhtar told the CDA that an inquiry is being conducted against Mr Durrani, Pakistan Housing Foundation Managing Director Jameel Ahmed Khan and Secretary Zafar Yab Khan, among others.

NAB has asked the CDA to provide attested copies of its rules, laws, criteria and procedure for the allotment of mosque plots. Sources said NAB is looking into whether the housing ministry under Mr Durrani illegally allotted mosque plots.

Details sought in ongoing inquiry against former housing minister

In February, NAB Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal ordered an inquiry against Mr Durrani for the allegedly illegal allotment of land belonging to the Pakistan Housing Foundation.

According to a statement issued in February, the aforementioned allotments in I-12 and I-16 caused billions of rupees in losses to the exchequer.

In NAB’s recent letter, the bureau also expressed displeasure with the CDA for failing to provide timely information in response to an earlier letter.

The letter stated: “It is once again requested to provide above mentioned information through well conversant officer with the record in person to undersigned at the earliest.”

When contacted, CDA spokesperson Syed Safdar Ali Shah said the CDA would provide NAB with the requisite information as soon as possible. He said the authority complied with NAB directives whenever it was asked to provide records.

How does the CDA handle mosque land?

Although the CDA has a mechanism for allotting plots for mosques in Islamabad’s urban areas, it has not developed a policy in this regard for the entirety of the capital.

Sources said that whenever the CDA acquires land from locals to develop planned sectors, it is routine for outsiders to occupy vacated land and build mosques there.

CDA officials said the authority’s urban planning directorate proposed a policy last year for the allotment andregularisation of land for mosques. They said there are currently four types of mosques: those built on approved sites and run by approved management committees, those built on approved sites but run by unapproved management committees, those built on unapproved sites and mosques that were built before the city was developed.

A survey the CDA and Islamabad Capital Territory administration conducted last year found that there are 374 seminaries in the capital, most of which are unregistered and some built on greenbelts.

“The system of allotments of land for mosques needs to be streamlined,” a CDA official said.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2018