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ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday initiated investigations against administrations of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Islamabad, Bahria Town and Capital Development Authority (CDA) for over Rs62 billion DHA Valley and its Phase-II (extension) scams.
The anti-graft watchdog also decided to start probe against the son-in-law of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif retired Capt Safdar and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Ameer Muqam for having assets beyond their known sources of income.
The NAB closed down a case of Khushhal Pakistan Programme funds against Nawaz Sharif who has already been facing four other cases.
110,000 civilians, and 41,000 serving and retired military officers and families of martyrs suffered losses
These decisions were made in the executive board meeting that was chaired by the bureau’s chairman, retired Justice Javed Iqbal.
An official press release regarding the meeting said: “The administrations of the three organisations were accused of being involved in non-development of DHA Valley and DHA Phase-II extension causing irreparable losses to hundreds of thousands of people who had invested their hard earned money in these projects.”
In October 2016, former army chief Gen Raheel Sharif had given a go-ahead to NAB to take stern action against retired military officers and civilians involved in the DHA Valley scam. However, the then NAB administration did not take significant action.
A top NAB official, on condition of anonymity, told Dawn that a senior official of the army had called on NAB’s former chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry in July 2015 and had assured full support to the bureau in investigating the matter.
It is NAB’s second action against Bahria Town’s chief Malik Riaz in a month as the anti-corruption watchdog had already started inquiry against him.
The DHA Valley scheme, meant for the bereaved families of martyred military personnel, was proposed on the site of a small dam called the Dadhocha dam on Punjab government’s land.
The DHA Valley case was started on the complaint of a resident of Rawalpindi, retired Lt Col Mohammad Tariq Kamal, in Sept 2010, who alleged that the real estate project DHA Valley was being developed on the area reserved for the lake adjoining the proposed Dadhocha dam. Following the verification of the complaint on June 13, 2011, the bureau had authorised an inquiry on July 3, 2012.
Names of former army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s brothers and some other retired officials of the army are also part of the scam as their firm was hired to provide land for DHA Valley scheme.
The petition said the DHA, Bahria Town and a real estate/construction firm Habib Rafique had entered into a contract to develop various housing schemes, including DHA Valley, DHA Phase II extension, DHA Express Way and DHA Villas in Rawalpindi, as a joint venture.
According to the petitioner’s evaluation, the DHA Valley was valued at Rs110 billion, DHA Phase II Extension at Rs70 billion, the Express Way at Rs50 billion and DHA Villas was valued at Rs100 billion. DHA-I and DHA-II are said to be developed housing societies, but DHA Valley is yet to be developed.
The NAB inquiry said that the people who had paid money to get the plots in DHA Valley had found that they were fooled because they were deliberately not informed by the DHA management about the agreement between DHA-I and Bahria Town over land development. In 2009, the DHA had transferred all the funds raised from the public — Rs62bn — to the accounts of Bahria Town. But, Bahria Town failed to develop the scheme.
About 110,000 civilians, 41,000 serving and retired military officers and families of martyrs were cheated in the scam. The total land in question is of 165,000 kanals.
Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2018
Comments (58) Closed
The outcome of this case will make a very interesting chapter for our history books. Two largest land grabbers, their agents and overseers, their favored politicians and cronies are all in cahoots in the scam. Fasten your seat belts it is going to be rough ride
I am one of the victims of dha valley scam who has spent sleepless nights after spending a hefty amount buying a dha homes in this sham project.and not only lost my hard earned money but my dream of having my own house has also been shattered.
Rest assured nothing will happen as sources behind Bahria Town, DHA and CDA are way above the law.
Probe is fine but the proof of the pudding will be in unbiased actions to serve justice which is unlikely given the culture of the corrupt system
N.A.B lays fresh charges of corruption against someone every week but I am still waiting to see a conviction. Honorable (Rtd) Justice Javed Iqbal please give us your views in this matter. Thank you.
Very good step. Next stop should be Lahore plz. Massive property scams and irregularities in Lahore DHA and Bahria town. Someone take action i am one of the aggrieved parties. I know many others who have suffered huge losses in the SACRED DHA Lahore.
Good News!
The people as well as the members of armed forces in service or retired trust DHA, and not the Bahria Town or a person named Riaz Malik. It is hoped that stake of all investors will be proper taken care of, and the innocent people will not suffer the least. The credibility, and reputation of DHA is at risk. The overseas Pakistani trust DHA by name, and invested with full trust. Hence their trust must remain intact.
Is there any project or initiatives where Nawaz Sharif or his close family has gotten involved and free of corruption? Shriefs clan need to be investigated.
Victim too. 10 years on and investigation finally started - Good Lord! Announcements/Investigations usually land no where in my motherland - Pakistan ):
Why no one has asked what prevented the previous Chairman NAB from doing his duty ?
Dawn is showing good courage to publish such news. The rest of Pakistani media are tight lipped to speak about the Pakistan biggest Land Grabber Malik Riaz.
Just pressure tactics before the elections to squeeze Malik Riaz... The Rs62 billion is long gone. Only in Pakistan is it possible to even cheat the family of a Shaheed. Imagine the anguish their families will be in.
What about Zardari and co?
I think this time things will move, if not then never
There must be only a handful of institutions or organizations in Pakistan, that are completely free of any scandal, involving corruption, greed, illegal activities or where money had not motivated the people in charge!
Sad to see almost daily dose of some sort of probe involving scam and other corruption allegations around the country - be it politicians, banks, government agencies, private organizations and even so-called islamic charities.
How many times does NAB have to start probe, and what happened to its previous probes ? Why couldn’t it conclude the ones from 2012 and 2016 ? It’s a shut and close case, where DHA took money from more than a 100 thousand people and did not deliver the project.
A person who was 40 has now turned 50 in hope that someday he might get a chance to live in his/her own house. The kid who was 10 has turned 20 and has started university hoping to get a job after few years and invest in another scam like his elders with a hope of staying in his/her own house, What kind of land we are living in?
Time to DEMOLISHED entire Bahria town Karachi
@Ahsan Gul Pakistan was achieved with huge sacrifices and great losses of muslim life. Now we see few corrupt people looting while most in the country continue to suffer. All the crooks regardless of their wealth and power, should be behind bars.
Why do these "scams" appear in the news after they have been completed, why cannot the authorities concerned bring to notice before they occur, wasting resources of the tax payers. Why is the system so skewed to specially allow these things to happen so that NAB and other authorities can show they are earning their bread and butter, to the public at large. Why cannot we be honest with ourselves as individuals and as a nation so institutions like NAB are not required.
We only now look towards the outcome since NAB has closed cases against Nawaz Sharif and Zardari.This is what we expect here as well for the sake of democracy,
DhA Phase 2 Extension . For more than 10 years there is no news on investment and a big set back to many.
the people who have invested in DHA BAHRIA and CDA have invested from money earned through corrupt means. A twenty two scale officer who has a family to feed can not even buy a plot in such societies.
@H. M. M. Amin Right on the mark but unfortunately nobody cares.
Let us see, if they can?
They will now create more mess and losses if any of these multi billion dollar projects are halted. Better to negotiate a deal and get back to work. Economy matters.
Please don't drag it like Sharif's cases. People are getting fed up but NAB is at ease!!!!!!
G-14 as well please
Not very optimistic situation. Pakistan Courts and NAB are not in a position to lift the weight of DHA Valley and other scams. No body will ask Fraudulent management of DHA, Bahria Town or Habib Rafique about PKR 62 Billion amount placed or invested somewhere else. They have intentionally created the mess in the name of DAM and permissions. They have destroyed our dreams of owning our homes. We have been the victims suffering over last 10 years and still there seems no ending to our sufferings. 01 Million Rs. of 2008 should at-least grow to 05 Million Rs. at minimum returns. The outcome of this rough ride is not very optimistic considering previous actions of NAB and Courts.
Sir please investigate private society in Islamabad also their dealer mafia has destroyed us
The main contributors to climate change and low rainfall in pakistan are these numerous housing societies which are developed on forest and reserve lands not meant for common people's habitation.
Nothing will happen.
@Ahsan Gul For your information Sharif family has no connections with these scams which have been carried out by the untouchable powers that we all know. PTI supporters' obsessions with Sharif family will cost PTI a great deal of damage in coming elections.
NAB should also investigate money raised from application forms for DHA multan . And how the plots were allocated and to whom?
First my money was stuck in bankers city and now this dha valley. I am a salaried class person, Salute to the authorities.. do they have any idea how i tried to pay the installments. NAB sized the accounts of Bankers city scam..and back in 2009 published in newspaper that soon they will start giving back money to affected people its now 2018. NAB should clear the backlog first then jump to other scams. I tried mailing chairman NAB and cc all centers multiple times..no single email from them of any sort ..and as of today their emails dont work and mails gets bounced back. At least pay me back the Bankers city money so that i can streamline my life a bit.
Time has come to tame the untouchable land mafia boss!
Even if the case is being prosecuted, they would not be able to harm the ''sharif family'' neither can collect back the money they had had long long ago. Likewise the case of Bilawal and Zardari
A good test case
Probing is good ... getting results and punishing the wrongdoer is much better.
@Danish are you for serious?
Nothing will come out of this
It's storm in tea cup, nothing will come out of it. All are accomplices in this one way or the other.
@Farooq khan. It'll be a 5 day test match with no results
I hope someday the mighty hands of NAB reach Sindh and Karachi as well. PPP has looted Karachi more than the British looted all of India for 200 years. The officers of KDA, KMC, Sindh Police, Board of Revenue, MNAs/MPAs of PPP, MQM, all are in cahoots with DHA and Bahria Town.
It will be a miracle even if they start the inquiry and public the report
nab nab what is nab , what nab has done except time wasting and finally the criminals go free . nawaz is protected by nab,fia , police and all govt agencies . nab is eyewash and wastage of public money.
@Waleed Zulfikar Rest assured no one is looking or listening. Karachi is the only milking cow which feeds the country in every possible manner. Whether it is taxation or theft or pilferage of vehicles or any other materials, we continue contributing towards the welfare of the nation. Isn't that enough?
What about edan land scheme . Plz return the poor people money with current rate It is my request to chief justice. Please help poor people . NAB has not taken decisional action against them.
Was that a scam ... I did received the provisional authority letter ! Please don't tell me it was.
Better late then never. Nothing will come out of this investigation. Another perfect opportunity for NAB officials to increase their own bank account.
I am an overseas Pakistani failed to date to get possession of my CDA E-12 sector plot. Have filed numerous complaints in CDA, and Supreme Court with no acknowledgement/response. Frustrated Pakistani living overseas. Corruption at its height in Pakistan
I hope there is some logical conclusion.
We are 4300 Allottes Waiting for E-12 Development since 1989. Its Totally fruad of CDA with us. Kindly Develop Sector E-12.
Out of 151, 000 occupied plots, how many of them were for the martyrs families?
Victim too!
Bought in 2008 with my hard earned money, and on each instalment, the letter from DHA would say that they would deliver it within 3 years i.e. 2011.
The main culprit in this whole DHA Valley scam is "DHA". It was DHAs name who people trusted and were defrauded.
Great work NAB. But I request NAB and SC to start cases against Zardari and his son, that how his son became Billionaire when he was studying in London and no business or job? Also NAB to investigate that what was the source of income of Zardari when he was only husband of Benazir bhutto? How Zardari and his son have millions $ villas in all Behria Towns of Pakistan?
Probe,investigation, issuing notices, trials dragging for years, all this is just waste of public funds and big checks for Lawyers. Nation need results. Most of these cases can be concluded in two to three hearings. Either acquittal or jail. Even sending jail is not in the public interest. Majority of these culprits can not earn a living if they are not in govt. They have looted millions, in some cases billions and have build their empires in foreign countries. If jailed for few years. they will serve the sentence in air conditioned rooms with all amenities, come out and either become heroes or leave the country and enjoy the looted money. The only way to bring fruitful results is, to confiscate their passports, cancel their NICs and give them in Military custody till they bring the money home.
I am one of the victims of dha phase II Extension one kanal plot scam who has spent sleepless nights after spending a hefty amount buying a dha plot in this sham project.and not only lost my hard earned money but my dream of having my own house has also been shattered.