LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau on Wednesday arrested a senior official of the Pak-Arab Housing Society, Lahore, for allegedly defrauding the people.

According to NAB, it arrested Pak-Arab Housing Society’s deputy administrator retired Maj Ghulam Murtaza in Lahore.

“Mr Murtaza is a co-accused in defrauding people and committing Rs18 billion worth of corruption,” it said.

The bureau further said the suspect had sold out 8,500 files of plots illegally despite the fact that no NoC had been issued to the housing scheme by the Lahore Development Authority.

It said Murtaza had fled abroad after it launched an investigation into the scam. “He has been arrested on his return,” he added.

He will be produced before an accountability court on Thursday (today) for physical remand.

In early October, NAB had arrested former senator Ammar Gulzar in connection with fraud in the Pak-Arab society.

He was accused of selling files to more people than the available plots. The NAB has already seized the record of the society.

Meanwhile, another housing scam surfaced in Shiekhupura. The NAB Lahore launched investigation against Jinnah Town on Lahore-Sheikhupura Road for allegedly depriving a number of people of handsome money against plots that did not exist. The NAB has asked all affected persons to file their claims with the Lahore office within two weeks.

The bureau has also launched a probe into A-One Motors Township, Lahore, for allegedly making millions by defrauding people. The bureau said the company received money from a number of people against provision of cars on easy installments but neither it provided them with cars nor returned their amount. The NAB asked the affectees to submit their claims with it within 15 days.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2018