ISLAMABAD: Three officials of the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) land directorate were removed from their positions for showing 200 incomplete structures as complete houses in the initial built-up property (BuP) record of C-13 and C-16 to pave way for allotment of plots to their owners.

However, their attempts were thwarted due to timely action of the security directorate.

CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed on Friday ordered removal of a Girdawar and two Patwaris from their positions. He also ordered an inquiry into the matter.

Mr Ahmed told Dawn that crackdown would continue against such elements in the civic authority.

Sources said the land directorate officials were carrying out a survey of houses in sectors C-13 and C-16, adding that around 200 newly-constructed structures and incomplete houses were included in the survey record to enable their owners to get plots allotted in their names.

The CDA is carrying out the survey in the two sectors to announce a BuP award for the owners. The land award of the two sectors was announced in 2008 but their BuP award is yet to be announced.

Civic body conducting survey of built-up property in C-13, C-16 sectors

Under the CDA rules, legitimate owners of houses are entitled to get a plot in lieu of their houses.

A few years ago, some CDA officials had added hundreds of bogus claims of BuP in Chatta Bakhtawar housing scheme. Currently, the case is being probed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Speaking to Dawn, Director Land Shafi Marwat said to ensure transparency, the directorate had already decided that BuP plots will be allotted through an imagery prepared by Suparco. Only those whose houses existed at the time of the land award announced in 2008 will get plots. He said that last week a Patwari and a junior assistant were also suspended due to their alleged involvement in creation of BuPs and other illegal activities.

“There is no room for corrupt elements in the land directorate. During the last one year, we have caught a large number of bogus files,” he said.

Meanwhile, on the complaint of a citizen, the CDA chairman on Friday ordered issuance of a show-cause to deputy director land Imdad Hussain for allegedly using delaying tactics in handling a case.

Mr Ahmed also visited the inquiry offices where citizens could register their complaints and found a majority of staff absent. He ordered issuance of a show-cause notice to the director of water supply for his failure to ensure presence of staff during office hours. An official at the G-6 inquiry office was also suspended.

The CDA chairman told Dawn that every day the director municipal administration will sit at the citizen facilitation centre for at least an hour to facilitate citizens.

It has also been decided that the CDA board members (on a rotation basis) will listen to issues of the citizens outside the one-window operation centre, he added.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2021