PESHAWAR, Jan 3: The National Accountability Bureau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Tuesday filed a reference against Asad Ali Shah, the former director of Mansehra Development Authority, and 39 other persons on charges of illegal allotment of residential plots in Ghazi Kot Township. “These plots were allotted to bureaucrats, police officers, officers of Anti-Corruption Establishment, MDA employees and private persons in violation of rules, causing a loss of Rs184.477 million to the national exchequer,” said a press release issued by NAB.

It said that the accused also converted public utility places like taxi stand, park and green belts into residential plots and allotted the same to favourites on balloting price.

The release said that in violation of rules those illegal plots were transferred many times in a short span of time. In some cases one plot was allotted to more than one person and both of them sold the illegally allotted plot after depositing balloting price.

The accused persons also allotted plots reserved for CNG station, community centre, marriage hall, primary school and public park to their blue-eyed boys on nominal price without auction. All plots were required to be allotted to the highest bidder through fair and transparent auction.

The accused obliged the favourites by shifting their plots from undeveloped sector to the developed one. The accused persons allowed their favourite persons to sell the plots without depositing even the balloting price. During inquiry the NAB recovered Rs138.942 million through voluntary return.