KASUR: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) lodged a criminal case against former PML-N MNA, a Lahore Development Authority (LDA) enforcement officer and four others on charges of running an illegal housing society, evading taxes worth millions of rupees and causing a loss to the exchequer.

However, an ACE team arrested the Kasur Municipal Committee enforcement officer allegedly over abuse of official position.

A first information report (FIR) had been lodged under sections 420, 468, 471, 409 of the PPC and Section 47 sub-section 5(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act based on one of the two references sent by the deputy commissioner (DC) to the ACE Lahore director general.

Earlier, DC Manzar Javaid Ali had submitted two references against former MNA Sheikh Waseem Akhtar and his son MNA Saad Waseem. The references were prepared in light of the reports prepared by the additional deputy commissioner revenue and assistant commissioner.

The FIR stated that Mr Akhtar ran an illegal housing society, called Makkah Town, over 61 kanal and nine marlas in Mauza Androon through a power of attorney granted by Pervaiz Akhtar, one of the four owners of the society. The former MNA transferred 10 marlas each of state land adjacent to the housing society in the name of two private people, Muhammad Fazal and Muhammad Ashiq, through forged documents.

It further stated that the LDA, through a letter dated Dec 3, had confirmed that the society administration had not paid commercialisation fee. The DC also stated in the FIR that the LDA was reluctant to take any action against the owners and management of the society that forced him to move against them.

The LDA enforcement officer had also failed to stop the functioning of the illegal society. However, the administration got enforcement officer of the Municipal Committee, Shaukat Ali, arrested, who was locked up in the Saddar police station.

The second reference involved the grabbing of state land by the former MNA near Kasur Tanneries Waste Management Agency on Deepalpur Road as well as charges against his son.

According to sources, another FIR against the former MNA and his son was being processed.

They also said that criminal cases against the Rana family of Pattoki, including former Punjab Assembly speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal, and others were also being finalised.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2020