MULTAN: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested five people in two cases -- Wapda Employees Cooperative Housing Society (WECHS) and PIA Housing Scheme -- and presented them before the accountability court. The court has granted 14-day physical remand of the accused.

According to an official handout issued here on Wednesday, the NAB authorities presented Muhammad Talha Baig, Muhammad Khalid, Hafiz Masood Nawaz and Abdul Razzaq Kashif in WECHS case and Mahmood Yasin Zahid in PIA Housing Scheme case.

Muhammad Khalid was member of land purchase committee and Management Committee of the WECHS and he in his capacity and in connivance with other members of committee illegally approved allotment of commercial plots in Phase-III of the society in violation of the by-laws.

The accused attended meetings held on Aug 29, 2015, Nov 16 and Dec 30 wherein the said illegal approval was granted by the management of the society.

“This act of accused resulted into loss of Rs1,752 million approximately to the society in the form of illegal allotment of commercial files and for which he is equally liable as per by-laws,” the handout said.

It stated that during interrogation main accused and former secretary of the society, Saeed Ahmed Khan, pointed out that he gave Rs15 million as kickback/commission to Khalid along with files of residential/commercial plots for illegal approvals of commercial plots.

“Record of WECHS, Multan revealed that accused Salman Siddiqui got allotted 458 illegal commercial files against land he transferred to the society. He was arrested on Aug 31, 2016. During interrogation he revealed that he was in partnership with Abdul Razzaq Kashif and Mirza Talha Baig in business on equal profit/loss share. Record also revealed that a piece of land measuring 101-kanal and 12-marla was on Satha (Agreement to sell) and has not yet been transferred to the society. Abdul Razzaq Kashif, Salman Siddiqui and Talha Baig were involved in this and received 539 marla residential files, apart from 48 illegal commercial files which amounts to Rs862.4 million (539x160000),” it said.

It stated that record also revealed that accused persons got issued 25-marla against another agreement of 4-kanal piece of land while this land was also not transferred to WECHS.

“Scrutiny of record also revealed that a piece of land measuring 114 kanal, 11 marla was also acquired and Salman Siddiqi and Abdul Razzaq Kashif signed this agreement with landowner Masood Athanghal on exorbitant price of Rs30 million per acre to obtain and justify extra illegal commercial files. Record also revealed that society, paid Rs25.2 million as stamp duty, Capital Value Tax, advance tax, however the land is still to be transferred to WECHS,” the handout said.

It stated that WECHS patwari Muhammad Ibrahim told that the accused Saeed Ahmed Khan directed him to execute deal of this land on such high price as the land owner was demanding more commercial files.

Masood Nawaz stated that he being landowner received 280 commercial files at a cost of Rs1.4 million per file of his share. He further recorded that he along with Salman Siddiqui and Abdul Razzaq Kashif finalised this deal with Saeed Ahmed Khan.

As per record Masood Nawaz did not transfer his land to WECHS Multan even till date despite receiving 280 commercial files.

In the other case, Mahmood Yasin Zahid (General Secretary PIA Housing Society) was actively involved in collection of millions of rupee from allottees. Accused initially joined investigation and thereafter once evidence started to materialise, he went into hiding. He was arrested after cancellation of his pre-arrest bail by the Lahore High Court’s Multan Bench.

“All accused were presented before the accountability court judge who granted physical custody for 14 days till May 24,” the handout concluded.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2017