ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee was informed on Wednesday that embezzlement amounting to Rs1.27 billion had been detected in land compensation payments, including payments made to fictitious and deceased affectees.
This included suspicious allotment of 43 plots in Islamabad that alone caused a loss of around Rs1 billion to the national exchequer, with dozens of officials and private individuals facing legal action.
The Public Accounts Committee held its meeting, chaired by committee member Shahida Akhtar Ali, to examine the audit report (2023-24) of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). It also discussed pending audit paras that were referred to the Federal Investigation Agency. Audit officials told the committee that Rs305.8 million had been paid to non-genuine affectees, while fake payments of Rs59.4 million were made in the names of deceased individuals. The committee was further informed that overpayments amounting to Rs380 million had also been detected.
Expressing concern over the situation, Ms Shahida Akhtar Ali said, “A disturbing pattern has developed and people continue to suffer because of it.” She said that even honest officials risked having their reputations tarnished due to such practices. Shazia Marri said the affectees were currently facing serious difficulties and stressed that justice must be ensured. Senator Bilal Mandokhail asked what action would be taken against CDA officials involved in the irregularities.
Appearing before the committee, FIA Director General Usman Anwar said that the allotment of 43 plots caused a financial loss of Rs1bn. He added that FIRs were registered against 57 CDA officials, employees and private individuals in connection with the case, while 37 suspects have been arrested so far.
Responding to the query, the CDA chairman told the committee that cases had been registered against those responsible and criminal proceedings were under way, with several individuals already arrested. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry remarked that despite committing large-scale fraud, many suspects managed to secure bail.
Ms Marri also questioned the recruitment practices within the CDA, asking what kind of individuals had been appointed in the authority. She said CDA affectees were facing serious difficulties and the situation should not reach a point where people were forced to stage protests to secure their rights. Expressing concern over corruption in compensation payments, Ms Shahida Akhtar Ali said the situation within the CDA appeared alarming. PAC member Nadeem Abbas said the extent of corruption suggested that the authority lacked an effective system.
Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry noted that the CDA was still compensating affectees at the 2008 rate of Rs800,000 per kanal, whereas land in the area now could not be purchased even for Rs10 million per kanal. The FIA director general also told the committee that orphans and persons with disabilities had been among those defrauded in the case.
