ISLAMABAD: As the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) settled billions of rupees worth of claims of village Chellow and Jhangi Syedan - the oldest localities of Islamabad – falling in Sector G-14/1, the local land owners have approached the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over the alleged foul play.

The FGEHF was established as a cell in Ministry of Housing and Works in 1989. It was upgraded to the authority through an Ordinance promulgated on July 12, 2019 by the president. Later, the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority Act was passed through parliament on Jan 15, 2020.

The FGEHF started development of G-14 sector about one and half decade back. Like all other sectors of the capital city, the sector is segregated into four sub-sectors, namely: G-14/1, G-14/2, G-14/3 and G-14/4.

While the other sub-sectors were already developed, the authority started development of G-14/1 recently.

Affected persons allege foul play; MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan says land owners unhappy with FGEHA compensation method

The numbers of affected land owners are about 300, however, the FGEHA has issued compensation cheques totaling Rs518.98 million to selected affected persons who were not local residents but investors.

As per the documents available with Dawn, Rs518,989,540 were disbursed across 32 property assessments, with at least six individuals receiving multiple cheques. Interestingly, multiple recipients belonged to the same family.

In addition to cash compensation, the FGEHA also issued them plots worth Rs25 million to Rs30 million each. Local land owners on the other hand filed an application with NAB requesting probe into the alleged cherry picking. They also approached the FGEHA for redressal of their grievances.

Asif Waseem, an affected land owner, said this was not the first time the FGEHA had discriminated against local affected persons. He said in the past too, investors were given preferential treatment.

He said the investors in connivance with the FGEHA purchased claims from the locals at throwaway rates and minted billions of rupees through flawed compensation mechanism. He further said this was the reason the local residents filed complaint with NAB.

When contacted, FGEHA Director (Land) Ihsan Ilahi told Dawn that he received applications from the affected land owners. He said the matter pertained to the Land Acquisition Collector, therefore, applicants had been referred to him.

On the other hand, FGEHA spokesman Nasir Mahmood claimed that compensation had been made on merit and that the FGEHA had disbursed the cheques and allotted plots to the affected villagers in accordance with the set criteria.

According to him, the ‘pick and choose’ allegations are baseless.

A subcommittee of the National Assembly headed by local MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan is also deliberating upon the issue of compensation of Sector G-14.

Talking to Dawn, MNA Khan confirmed that the local land owners were perturbed over the method employed by the FGEHA for compensation.

He said the local villagers who were residing in these localities for several decades must be given preference. He however said the matter would be taken up in the upcoming meeting of the subcommittee and he would inquire from the FGEHA director general and other officials concerned.

NOTE: An earlier version of this report mistakenly attributed a quote to FGEHA Director (Estate) Jameel Ahmed Jameel. Dawn actually spoke to FGEHA Director (Land) Ihsan Ilahi. The error is regretted.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2025