ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) may have attempted to secretly move six plots from a lower value subsector to the more upscale F-11/1 and F-11/2 subsectors in order to benefit six selected people, sources in the authority told Dawn.

They said the Land Directorate did not issue a public notice to offer all those allotted plots in the area the chance to transfer their plots to the more upscale subsectors if their plots are located in a depression.

They said there were only six vacant plots in F-11/1 and 2, and all those allotted plots in F-11/4 should have been given a fair chance to apply to transfer their plots to those two subsectors.

Sources say Land Directorate did not give all those allotted land in F-11/4 a chance to apply to transfer their plots

However, Land Director Irfanullah Khan, an officer of the foreign service who joined the CDA’s Land Directorate on deputation, opted for a selective process.

Mr Khan is assisted by Information Group Deputy Director Rana Farhan in running the affairs of the directorate, while Member Estate Khushal Khan is supposed to look after the affairs of the CDA’s land and estate.

Sources in the CDA said a 30x70 plot in F-11/4 has a market value of around Rs7 million, while a plot of the same size in F-11/1 or 2 is worth around Rs25m.

The land director has defended his decision, saying he was approached by six applicants and allotted the plots to them after holding balloting among them.

However, CDA officials raised questions about the directorate’s move, alleging that directorate officials received millions of rupees in bribes from a front man of Shah Allah Ditta – a charge that has been vehemently denied by the land director.

CDA officials said the Federal Investigation Agency and the National Accountability Bureau should investigate why no public announcement was made to change six plots worth millions of rupees.

The Land Directorate has faced several allegations of massive corruption for several months.

After a number of complaints of foul play in balloting on Aug 17, acting CDA chairman and mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz banned further balloting for the time being.

At the last balloting held, Land Directorate officials allegedly allotted plots to affected people in Islamabad by choice in I-11 and I-12. A small plot in I-11 is worth Rs7m, while a plot of the same size in I-12 is worth Rs3m.

The directorate also allotted plots to some people who had already been allotted plots in the past.

During an inquiry conducted after an order from Mr Aziz, it was found that four plots were allotted to people who had already been allotted plots in other developed sectors, but no action was taken against those responsible.

“I do not know under what grounds and rules the F-11 plots were allotted. I will look into the matter; if I find wrongdoing, strict action will be taken against the officer(s) at fault,” Mr Aziz said.

When asked what action was taken after the balloting scandal, he said: “Yes, during the preliminary inquiry it has been transpired that some plots were double allotted in balloting. Now we will hold a proper inquiry to fix responsibility,” he said.

The allotment of plots to affected people - people whose land was acquired by the CDA, entitling them to alternate plots – was banned for nearly a year due to numerous corruption cases.

It was recently opened with a new standard operating procedure.

According to the CDA’s own inquiry report, Land Directorate officials allotted 207 periods during the ban as well, but action has not been taken against anyone so far.

“We have been informing the CDA chairman, who is well informed about the Land Directorate, regularly. Now it is up to him to take action,” an official from the CDA’s Security Directorate said.

When contacted, Director Land Irfanullah Khan said he allotted six plots in F-11/1 and F-11/2 to those who had been allotted plots in a depression in F-11/4.

“I received only six applications, and I allotted them new plots in F-11/1 and 2,” he said.

He added that being the director, he is supposed to resolve people’s problems.

“As far as other people are concerned, I have decided to get more plots created in F-11/1 and 2 to accommodate around 15 more [people allotted plots],” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2017