LAHORE: Following various internal reports related to duplicate files and forged documents of various plots in Johar Town allegedly prepared by the officials concerned, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has constituted a five-member fact-finding committee to launch a probe into such issues and complete the inquiry in 60 days.

Dawn learned that the secretary of the committee has issued a warning notice to eight record keepers for delaying handing over the relevant record of plots’ duplicate files.

The committee members, according to the notification, included Farqleet Meer, LDA’s additional director general, administration/headquarters (convener), Abdul Basit Qamar (director, information technology), Humaira Sharif (director, record management), Muhammad Tayyab Khan (deputy director, (admin-III), Muhammad Jahangir Iqbal, deputy director of housing-v (secretary of the committee), and Muhammad Zahid Sadiq (assistant director, revenue).

The committee will inquire into irregularities in file numbers JT-NB-II-5701 (file bearing plot No 306-A, Block-J/1), JT-NB-II-6-5-615, JT-NB-II-187-28, JT-NB-II-169, and related parts (part files). It will probe into the applications submitted by Zaheer

Ahmad to ascertain the veracity of his ownership of properties in Johar Town. The mandate of the committee also includes scrutinizing, analysing, and inquiring whether all cases of preparation of duplicate files beginning from the first date of the application pertaining to property file No. JT-306-A/J-1, i.e May 5, 2018, to January 31, 2023, have been processed in adherence to the prevailing SOPs.

It will also investigate whether or not cases of exchange of plots beginning from the period (May 5, 2018, to January 31, 2023) have been processed in pursuance of the prevailing SOPs. It will review the list of missing files published in the year 2009 vis-à-vis Johar Town and scrutinize such files included in the said list that have later been processed and/or reconstructed.

The committee shall reconcile and cross-check the record of duplicate files available in the parent directorate with the inventory record and scanned data. It will analyze the initiation procedure of such applications from a one-window cell and their complete trail.

Consequent to the constitution of the committee, the record of duplicate files pertaining to Johar town (Directorate of Housing-VII) shall at once be handed over to the directorate of record management.

“The committee shall positively complete the fact-finding inquiry within 60 days and furnish a report along with specific recommendations, including fixation of responsibility upon the delinquent officer(s) or official(s) so that disciplinary proceedings can be initiated against them under the Employees Efficiency, Discipline, and Accountability (Peeda) Act of 2006,” the director general concludes in a notification.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2023