ISLAMABAD: A two-member inquiry committee, formed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) management to probe alleged fraudulent allotments of agro farms in the past, has recommended cancellation of the findings conducted by a previous committee, and sought action against a deputy director and another individual.

The committee, headed by Deputy Director General Resources Humaira Irshad and also comprising Director Estate Shakeel Ahmed, completed its probe related to the allotment of five agro plots.

It pointed out that out of the five agro farms, three, which were allotted on alleged bogus documents, had already been cancelled while the remaining two, which were sold by allottees to third party years ago, were regularised before facing cancellation.

However, one plot had been restored on court orders while the matter of the remaining one was sub judice. The report said the CDA had received payment against these two agro farms.

Seeks action against CDA deputy director, another individual

Sources in the CDA said the inquiry report had been submitted to the Human Resource Department for further proceedings.

They said CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa had received information that some people were trying to get the remaining three agro farms allotted, following which he formed a fact-finding committee to probe allotment of the five agro farms.

The committee pointed out that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had investigated the matter in the past and had sent several CDA officials to jail.

The inquiry stated that despite NAB’s probe, in 2017CDA’s deputy director gave a statement before the local court in favour of the applicants and against the CDA.

A former CDA employee, who remained involved in the bogus allotment of several agro farms, was convicted by NAB court under reference number 64/200 and was awarded seven-year imprisonment with a fine in 2005. He had purchased claims of one of the agro farms through his relative and sold it in the market.

The inquiry report said out of the five plots, CDA received payment from the third party for regularisation of two plots. However, the matter is still in litigation while allotment of the three agro farms had already been withdrawn.

The inquiry committee said: “It is recommended that CDA Board cancel the previously approved recommendations of Allotment Scrutiny Committee dated 18-10-1999; this will remove any ambiguity in future regarding the subject properties. Estate wing may move a summary in this regard.”

The inquiry report said without prejudice to any court proceedings where the said private person may be a party, it is an established fact that NAB Court had convicted him. It was also endorsed by the Lahore High Court that fraud was committed to the extent of two affected persons and that the land record that established their case was tempered with.

It said record showed that the above-mentioned private person had on multiple occasions tried to mislead courts in pursuance of the five properties in question.

“Despite this clear pattern, the inquiry is bound with statutory limitations wherein the inquiry officers cannot proceed against private individuals under any law. It is therefore recommended that the case may be forwarded to the relevant agency for further action against him, the report said, adding that the former CDA deputy director, who joined the civic agency on deputation, gave a statement against the interest of the authority in court, therefore action may be taken against him according to relevant rules/policy.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2025