ISLAMABAD, April 1: An official of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), who led an inquiry into a scam involving allotment of over 109 plots to benefit officers of the civic agency, was transferred to Balochistan.

Dr Kazim Niaz, member environment, investigated the case that also involved a close friend of former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.

It may be noted that the inquiry into the scam was initiated on January 15 on the complaint of Mohammad Yaseen, a union leader in the civic agency.

The federal government reportedly pressured CDA chairman Syed Tahir Shahbaz to close the investigation, but he refused. On March 16, the last day of the tenure of the assemblies, Mr Shahbaz was removed from the post.

However, the Supreme Court took suo motu notice and restored him two days later.

Sources in the civic agency said the letters offering the plots to the officers were issued without the mandatory approval of the CDA chairman and the knowledge of the senior management.

According to the inquiry report, which is available with Dawn, the officers under investigation for the allotment of the plots included Laeeq Yousaf Zai (Director General Administration), Naveedul Haq (Director Estate-I), Ali Murtaza Bukhari (Assistant Director Estate Management), Mohammad Ali (Director Human Resource Development), Haseen Raza Zaidi (Deputy Director Sanitation) and Abdul Waheed (Medical Technologist).

The inquiry report confirmed that the offer letters were prepared and issued on the night of January 9 by the officers sitting at the Kuwait Hostel of the International Islamic University.

“Notes and signs were also put on the official file at the private place.”

The report added that the process was carried out under the darkness of the night and in a shady and hurried manner.

According to Dr Niaz, the entire procedure brought a bad name to the organisation.

According to the report, Dr Niaz wrote to the CDA chairman: “In the light of evidence, the officers working in various formations of the CDA are found to be at fault for negligence, misconduct, misuse of authority and failure to discharge duties in accordance with official procedures.

“They (officials) have harmed the reputation of the organisation and it would be in the fitness of things if a formal inquiry is initiated against them.”

Dr Niaz said officers who were responsible for the routing of the files were also the beneficiaries of the flawed process.

When contacted, the CDA chairman said: “We have recommended to the cabinet division to initiate an inquiry under the efficiency and disciplinary rules against the officers who are working on deputation in the CDA.”

He said officers were working in the CDA were also facing an internal inquiry and would face disciplinary proceedings as per CDA rules.

He said the member finance was the inquiry officer in the matter “The inquiry will carried out on merit,” he added.

Secretary establishment division Taimoor Azmat could not be contacted for comment.