Rs20 billion corruption alleged in Jinnah Garden a...

Summary

•   Islamabad: Alleged corruption worth more than Rs20 billion in Jinnah Garden, 44 pending FIA inquiries and claims that a single plot was sold to five different people have raised serious questions about the role of housing society managements and government regulators in Islamabad.
•   The affected residents demanded that all housing societies undergo transparent forensic audits covering land ownership, plot allotments, financial records, commercial changes and management decisions.
•   They also demanded that the CDA restore land reserved for schools, mosques, parks and other facilities, take action against illegal commercial buildings and ensure that ordinary residents have a proper role in society elections and management.

AI Generated Summary

Islamabad: Alleged corruption worth more than Rs20 billion in Jinnah Garden, 44 pending FIA inquiries and claims that a single plot was sold to five different people have raised serious questions about the role of housing society managements and government regulators in Islamabad.

Residents and affected allottees from several housing societies have accused property dealers, developers and some officials of working together to sell public amenity land, issue questionable plot files and keep investigations pending for years. They demanded an independent investigation, recovery of public money and action against those found responsible.

The allegations were made at a press conference at the National Press Club, where representatives of Jinnah Garden, Swan Garden, Gulberg Greens, Capital Enclave, Kashmir Housing Society, The Life Residencia and other schemes spoke about what they described as widespread corruption and failures by the Capital Development Authority and the Cooperative Department.

A representative Mr Majid of Jinnah Garden Federal Employees Cooperative Housing Society alleged that financial irregularities and embezzlement in the society had crossed Rs20 billion. He said 44 inquiries involving the society were pending with the FIA’s CCC Wing, with some cases reportedly remaining unresolved for eight to ten years. He also claimed that two inquiries were pending with the Cooperative Department.

The speaker said an inquiry initiated by advocate Kashif Ahmed Khan and completed by the Assistant Commissioner Sadar had found 12 to 14 allegations against the society’s management to be proved. He said the findings should have led to action by the National Accountability Bureau and the FIA, but the same management continued to hold office.

He further alleged that the inquiry had remained pending for more than six months, despite rules requiring such matters to be concluded within 15 days. The claims were made by the society’s representative at the press conference

The representative also questioned the composition of the society’s 13 member management body, alleging that 11 members were property dealers or linked to property businesses. He claimed that people with business interests were influencing the society’s management and election process.

The most alarming allegation concerned thousands of people who have been waiting for plots for two decades. The speaker said more than 7,000 Jinnah Garden allottees had still not received plots despite paying money and waiting for around 20 years.

He alleged that some plots had been sold to as many as five different people, leaving several buyers claiming ownership of the same piece of land. He also said the current management had promised to adjust the affected allottees within three years but had failed to provide a plot to even one person during that period. He claimed that only a small number of people had since been accommodated.