GUJRAT: The Gujranwala Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) have booked nine people, including an MPA of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, his two sons and three officials of the Land Revenue Department on charges of fraudulently transferring a huge chunk of land through illegal means.

The land measuring 119 kanal and 11 marla is adjacent to a rice mills located along the main GT Road near Wazirabad city. It is owned by late businessman Bilal Arshad and its market price is said to be in billions.

When alive, Akhtar Shahzad alleged in a complaint lodged with the Gujranwala ACE Police Station that he had been in the Gujranwala District Jail after implication in the murder of his father Muhammad Arshad and brother Bilal Arshad.

However, in February 2022, his other brother Amjad Shahzad, Nasir Cheema (PTI MPA from Gakhar Mandi area), MPA’s two sons Jamal Nasir Cheema and Bilal Nasir Cheema, Naib Tehsildar Shabeer Hussain, Patwari Khawar Mureed, Gardawar Najamul Hassan, Imran Ali and Asif Abdullah Tarrar had fraudulently transferred the piece of land.

Adding, he said the land was owned by his deceased brother Bilal Arshad but the ownership of the land was transferred to Jamal Nasir Cheema through fake documents of showing Amjad Shahzad as sole owner of the land.

By doing so, he said that the suspect had deprived him and other legal heirs of the deceased family members of their due legal right of ownership.

He said suspects Jamal Nasir and his father used their political influence in getting the land in their name.

The Gujranwala ACE have registered the case against the nominated suspects under sections 420, 468 and 471 of Pakistan Penal Code and section 5/2/47 of prevention of corruption act PCA on the report of complainant and started investigation.

An ACE official said that the role of officials of Arazi Record Centre might also come under scrutiny.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2026