LAHORE: Calling it the first “mega operation” against illegal occupants of federal government’s properties, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claims to have retrieved land worth over Rs15 billion in different parts of the country over a week.

Last week, the FIA had launched the operation across the country on the directives of the Supreme Court and registered 39 first information reports (FIRs) against 117 suspects — incumbent and former officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), revenue department as well as private people — for their alleged involvement in illegal occupation of ETPB properties, non-payment of rent for years and violation of lease contracts, thus causing a loss to the exchequer.

Books 117 in ‘mega’ drive against land grabbers

The action is being carried out under the supervision of Dr Shoaib Suddle (the head of the one-man commission on minorities’ rights) and FIA Director General Sanaullah Abbasi.

“The retrieval of the federal government land from illegal occupants will continue and wrongdoers will be dealt with strictly. In Sindh, the FIA will seek the help of Rangers to free the occupied land from grabbers,” FIA Punjab Director Mohammad Rizwan told a press conference here on Monday.

Of the Rs15bn worth ETPB properties recovered, Rs6bn worth of land was retrieved in Lahore, Rs4bn from other parts of Punjab and the remaining from other provinces. A sum of Rs296 million has been recovered in arrears.

“In the second round of the operation (this week onwards), it is expected that the federal government’s properties worth over Rs100bn will be retrieved from grabbers. No such action has been taken in the past,” Mr Rizwan claimed, alleging that two former ETPB heads were also involved in land grabbing.

“Multiple FIRs have been registered against Asif Akhtar Hashmi and Siddiqul Farooq on charges of embezzlement and criminal breach of trust and investigation against them is under way,” he said.

Mr Farooq and Mr Hashmi are associated with the PML-N and the PPP, respectively.

“On the Supreme Court’s directives in respect of forensic audit of the ETPB conducted by the Accountant General of Pakistan, the ETPB officials are found involved in commission of irregularities in the matter of properties lying in trust with the board, thereby causing a loss of Rs77.6bn to the national exchequer,” the FIA director said, adding that the agency also recovered arrears from the defaulting tenants after registration of cases and inquiries against delinquent officials of the ETPB, revenue departments and private persons involved in causing a loss to the exchequer.

“Of the 776 audit paras, 453 have been addressed till now,” he said and especially lauded the performance of two officers of the Lahore wing, Beenish Rehman and Shahid Ali, in the ongoing drive.

Giving details of the recoveries by each FIA station, Mr Rizwan said: “FIA Punjab zone-I has retrieved 230 acres of land worth Rs5,831m and recovered Rs19.6m in arrears. Punjab zone-II has retrieved 302 acres worth Rs3,981.9m, Islamabad zone 274 acres worth Rs1261.4m and Rs7.3m in arrears. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa zone recovered eight acres worth Rs2,170.4m and Rs4.4m in arrears, Sindh zone-I retrieved two kanals worth Rs400m and Rs250.8m in arrears, Sindh zone-II retrieved 331 acres worth Rs104m and recovered Rs9.6m in arrears, while the Balochistan zone retrieved six kanals worth Rs1,280m and recovered Rs8m in arrears.”

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2021