LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) held open court proceedings here on Friday to address the grievances of complainants.

Lahore NAB Director General Amjad Majeed Aulakh listened to the grievances of people defrauded in the housing sector and investment schemes.

The open court was attended by the affectees of housing and financial frauds. They were victims of fraudulent practices of the Pak-Arab Housing scam, Palm Vista Housing scam, Al-Rehman Garden, Al-Haram Garden, Khayaban-i-Ameen Housing, Al-Jaleel Garden, Abuzar Housing Society, and Govt Employees Cooperative Housing Society. Other affectees of financial (investment) frauds had complaints about Lasani Chicks, Double Shah, and ISMMART.

Addressing the affectees of the Pak-Arab Housing Scam, Mr Aulakh said 2,300 people had already been distributed Rs1.67 billion, with an additional recovery of Rs540 million completed.

Talking to the complainants of the Palm-Vista Housing project, Mr Aulakh said an official inquiry had been initiated for 2018 claimants against the administration of Palm Vista Housing, where victims were defrauded through membership forms. He said the NAB was eager to take priority actions against the Al-Haram Garden administration to promptly address the victims’ losses.

Complaints against the administration of Khayaban-i-Amin indicated that despite payments made years ago for plots and flats, ownership rights could not be granted.

“Swift actions are being taken by NAB Lahore against Al-Rehman Garden’s administration, with positive outcomes expected.”

On-the-spot directives were issued on complaints from the victims of Al-Jalil Garden. In the case of Lasani Chicks, NAB Lahore has filed a reference in the accountability court worth Rs4.1 billion, which is currently under trial. Similarly, immediate redressal orders were issued for the victims of the Double Shah case.

The administration of Abu Zar Housing has obtained a court stay against NAB’s actions to sell properties of the accused party; however, an application for an early hearing has been filed by NAB Lahore. Action has been ordered on a citizen’s request in the case of Government Cooperative Housing Society.

The director-general said a housing scandal must involve a minimum of Rs500 million and 100 victims to proceed.

ACE: On the directions of Director-General ACE Sohail Zafar Chattha, open courts were organised in all regional and district offices of ACE across Punjab, in which officers directly listened to the problems of the people.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2024