LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Saturday suspended its three officials from service for facilitating alleged land grabber Mansha Bamm and his son to enter the premises of one-window cell in violation of the orders of the senior officials.

However, the authority surprisingly avoided taking action against the security officials on duty and their seniors, who were well aware of imposition of such a ban in offices of LDA Complex/headquarters in Johar Town, for giving access to Mansha Bamm and his son, Dawn has learnt.

According to an official source, the LDA authorities suspended Assistant Director Zahid Aziz, Assistant Naeemullah and DG cell’s peon Qasim Abbas for helping Bamm and his son, Faisal, enter the LDA’s one window after the security officials stopped them at the entrance gate/door.

“AD Zahid Aziz himself went to the gate and brought Mansha Bamm and his son to the one window premises. Similarly, the other two officials too helped them enter the premises,” reads a press release issued by a spokesman for the LDA.

“It has come to knowledge of the undersigned through two security guards deployed at the one-window cell’s main public entrance gate that Mr Zahid Aziz (AD/application scrutiny officer) has (allowed) forcefully security entry of a banned person, namely Mansha Bamm and his son Faisal despite resistance from them. They also raised allegations that Mr Aziz also used words of abuse against them while extending the forceful entry of the banned persons. Similarly, two other officials also extended support to facilitate Bamm and his son enter the LDA (sic),” reads a report by the one window cell’s director. Acting on the report, the LDA admin took the action.

When questioned, Mr Aziz replied that he didn’t know about the ban on entry of Bamm on the LDA premises being newly posted on the cell. He further reiterated that Bamm’s son had tried to submit applications on behalf of his father and being the scrutiny officer, he was solely responsible to identify the owner of the property before submission of the applications. That’s why he allowed Bamm to enter, he argued.

“In his reply, he also denied using abusive language with the security guards,” reads the report.

The report, in addition, also quoted guards admitting that they were well aware of the notorious banned persons and despite that they had granted them access entry without seeking permission from the competent authority. Hence, the security company had failed completely to stop entry of the banned persons.

“If the LDA officials can be suspended from service for such petty issues, which are yet to be inquired in depth, why the LDA admin avoided taking action against the security officials and their bosses within the company and the LDA?” an official source questioned.

Meanwhile, the LDA administration sent on Saturday a reference against its five officials for allegedly trying to unlawfully transfer a plot measuring one kanal (13-J/3) through bogus documents.

Those involved included Zulifqar Ali, Ayesha Siddiqa, Shahbaz Hasan, Awais Butt and Zahid Ali.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2019