LAHORE: The affectees of 13 housing societies appeared before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) at an open court hearing here on Saturday and demanded return of their money “looted” by owners of these schemes.

NAB Lahore Director General Amjad Majeed Aulakh presided over the monthly open court proceedings, mainly attended by the housing scams affectees.

The affectees of Omega City Housing, Omega Residencia, Pak-Arab Housing Society, Model Housing Enclave, Fizaiya Housing Scheme, Formanites Housing Society, Metro City (Al Raheem Garden), Lahore Garden Housing Scheme, Al-Rehman Garden, LDA Avenue-I, Maryam Garden, Elite Town Society and Ali Green Group narrated their ordeals before

the DG, requesting him to intervene and help them recover their looted money from the owners of these housing units.

The DG informed the affectees of Model Housing Enclave that NAB had recovered Rs440 million from the scheme owners and the amount’s disbursements would be initiated soon.

He added the NAB had earlier recovered more than Rs2bn in the same case and distributed the amount among the affectees.

He told the affectees of Pak Arab Housing Scheme, that courts had issued directives regarding settlement of all claims within six months period. He said the NAB investigation teams were working to implement these orders.

“Initially, NAB Lahore has sold out some properties owned by the accused persons and recovered a handsome amount, whereas, a hefty amount is soon to be received from them (accused persons),” he said.

The DG also asked the NAB teams to expedite working on Metro City (Al-Rahim Garden) so that proceedings over the claims could be initiated.

Similarly, the affectees in Omega City case, were told that the Layout plan/map of the scheme had been granted approval by the departments concerned. However, the affectees were advised to pay off the remaining amounts and secure possession of their plots from the society administration, or they may recover their paid amounts from the society. In this regard, NAB Lahore has already issued instructions to the society administration.

Addressing those attending the open court, the DG said the bureau was trying to function according to its mandate. He said that every claimant appearing in open hearing was given personal hearing by him and proper steps were taken to facilitate them.

In pursuance of the directions of NAB Chairman retired Lt Gen Nazir Ahmed, the Lahore office started organising open court in the last week of every month.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2023