ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has completed a probe into the bogus allotment of 10 plots in I-11 and I-12 sectors as its zonal board approved the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) in the case.

The scam surfaced in August last year when the security directorate of the CDA confiscated files of the plots minutes before issuance of their allotment letters from the One-Window Operation Centre of the civic agency.

Later, the security directorate conducted an investigation and reached the conclusion that the files were bogus. The CDA then referred the case to the FIA.

Recently, the agency shared the status of inquiries related to the CDA with the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior.

The committee was told by FIA Director Waqar Chauhan that during the last four years seven cases were referred to the agency by the CDA.

Six of the cases were referred to the FIA during the last one year.

The committee asked the director to furnish details of all the inquiries being conducted by FIA against the CDA, including those initiated by the agency itself.

Sources said currently the FIA was probing dozens of inquiries related to the CDA.

However, a document presented before the committee by the FIA stated that on Oct 2, 2020, the investigation agency took up the case of the 10 bogus plots.

It said the inquiry had been completed and the zonal board had also approved the registration of an FIR.

It said officers and officials of the One-Window Operation Directorate, Land and Rehabilitation Directorate and others were accused in the case.

Later, the FIA director told Dawn that soon the FIR would be registered against officials involved in the case.

Sources said the FIA has recently also sought details form the CDA about 10 officials who were likely to be booked in the case.

Meanwhile, the FIA document said an inquiry into an attempt to transfer illegally/fraudulently allotted two plots, one each in I-14/2 and I-10/4, had also been completed. It said the case was now being submitted for legal vetting.

About five other cases, the document stated that two FIRs had been registered in two cases - embezzlement of over Rs10 million in shape of cash withdrawals from the CDA accounts by tampering with 38 cheques and an attempt to transfer five illegally allotted plots in I-12. The document said the accused in these cases had been arrested.

Another case related to alleged unauthorised allotment of five plots in F-11 is under investigation.

The FIA has also started a probe into alleged illegal award of contract of cleanliness and garbage collection in the city.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2021