ISLAMABAD: Amid reports of growing corruption cases at the Land Directorate of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the director and deputy director land were on Monday removed from their posts.

Director Irfanullah Khan, an officer of the Foreign Service Group, and Deputy Director Rana Farhan of the Information Service Group have been working in the CDA on deputation.

They were on Monday directed to report to the Human Resource Department of the CDA.

On Friday, Mayor and CDA Chairman Sheikh Anser Aziz cancelled the allotment of over 100 plots that were allegedly made by choice through “corrigendum” by the land directorate.

Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz has already cancelled allotment of over 100 plots made through “corrigendum” during last six months

The mayor also ordered an inquiry into the matter.

“Today, both the officers have been removed from their positions whereas on Tuesday a notification will be issued for conducting the inquiry,” said the mayor.

He said it had come to his notice that the plots were allotted in various sectors through corrigendum on the basis of pick and choose.

“The inquiry will determine whether the plots were allotted against rules or not,” the CDA chief said, adding a ban had also been imposed on further allotment of plots through corrigendum.

Before joining the CDA, the director land had served as the staff officer to CADD Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. An official in the CDA said the director was enjoying backing of CADD.

Sources said the CADD minister and the mayor were not enjoying cordial relations.

However, the mayor denied this and said. “We are enjoying very good working relations.”

During the director’s tenure, the land directorate in a balloting held in August allotted plots to different people in I-11 and I-12 without following any policy.

A plot in Sector I-11 is worth Rs6 million while the same size plot in I-12 costs around Rs2.5 million. It is said that officials of the land directorate after allegedly getting bribe allotted the plots in I-11.

In September, the allottees of six plots in the less-valuable sector of F-11 were given alternative plots in F-11/1.

The price of a plot in F-11 is around seven million rupees while a similar size plot at the sub-sector of F-11/1 and F-11/2 is worth Rs15 million.

The directorate allotted the over 100 plots through corrigendum (shifting plots from one place to other because of an issue in physical possession of plots or in its allotment letter) in an alleged dubious manner. When contacted by Dawn, the outgoing director land defended his action and said he had allotted all plots in a fair and transparent manner.

He said some elements were trying to defame him. He also denied any wrongdoing in the allotment of plots on the basis of corrigendum or through balloting in Sector I-11 and I-12.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2017