MULTAN: A team of Anti-Corruption Establishment conducted a raid at the head office of Multan Development Authority (MDA) on Thursday and seized the record in connection with the allotment of nine commercial and 13 residential plots to a close relative of MDA director general.

A team of ACE, led by Deputy Director Investigation Amir Cheema, conducted the raid and seized the record from the departments of estate and land management and finance and administration.

“The raid has been conducted as the officials concerned were not providing the relevant record despite being asked several times,” said ACE Director Haidar Abbas Wattoo.

On April 8, 2021, in a letter the MDA informed Agha Hassan Raza Qazilbash (late) through his legal heirs that nine commercial plots (41.20 marla) in New Shah Shams Colony and 13 residential plots (126 marla) in Fatima Jinnah Town Phase-I have been allotted to him in lieu of a residential plot in Officers’ Colony.

The plot No7-E with an area of five kanal, eight marla and five sq. yard was allotted to Qazilbash and the possession of the plot was handed over to his representative on Nov 18, 1963.

Nine commercial, 13 residential plots allotted to a close relative of MDA DG

Meanwhile, some squatters started residing on the plot and the MDA informed the allottee to secure his plot.

In 1980, the housing scheme was handed over to the MDA and on April 1, 1985 the deputy martial law administrator sector 3, Multan, directed to give the land to the occupants.

Over various applications from the allottee, the governing body in its 33rd meeting held on Feb 17, 1999, decided to give alternative plots to him whenever available with MDA in future housing scheme; however it was rejected by the then MDA chairman /minister housing and urban development and public health engineering Afzal Ali Shah when it was placed in the 34th meeting of the governing body for confirmation.

On Aug 9, 2000, the governing body quashed the decision to give alternative plots and absolved the MDA of any responsibility when the matter again was placed in the 36th meeting.

The allottee again moved the LHC which directed the MDA to get the land vacated within six months and if it failed, the petitioner may move the DG MDA or relevant authority and a contempt petition was also filed over which the court on June 7, 2016 directed the MDA to get the land vacated with the help of police against which the occupants got stay orders.

The allottee filed another petition and the court on May 11, 2018 directed the MDA to pass appropriate orders to satisfy the petitioner within 30 days after the MDA proposed to place the matter with the governing body.

In its 76th meeting, the governing body decided to give four kanal eight marla land in Fatima Jinnah subject to final approval from the Punjab government. However when the summary was sent to the housing department, it was returned while stating that the “plots can only be exchanged in such cases where plots for exchange are under possession of both parties whereas in the instant case the plot in lieu of which exchanged plot is given is neither under possession of the petitioner nor with the MDA.”

MDA incumbent DG Agha Ali Abbas presented a working paper in 81st governing body meeting which was held on March 17, 2020 as a result a committee was constituted which recommended to restore the decision of the 33rd meeting (to give alternative plots) over which nine commercial and 13 residential plots were allotted.

According to a handout issued by the MDA, the record of Plot No7-E and Plot 2-E has officially been handed over to the ACE.

It stated the case regarding both plots is sub judice before the LHC.

“The decision of the LHC (in this regard) will be obligatory for all the departments,” it stated.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2021