ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) asked the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to provide a complete record of an agreement between the civic agency and Defence Housing Authority (DHA) made in 2007, which handed over hundreds of kanal to the DHA against 700 developed plots in the posh housing society.

16 years on, the CDA has not gotten the plots it was promised. Meanwhile, a probe was also launched by the FIA and the investigation sought details of the agreement in March.

On August 18, the FIA’s Corporate Crime Circle sent another letter to the CDA seeking the record from the civic agency. The letter stated that the agreement was carried out between retired Brig Asad Munir, who was CDA’s member estate, and retired Brig Zafar Iqbal Shah, director land at DHA, in Sept 2007.

In order to proceed further it is requested to provide the following record and information along with original and attested copies of the said agreement, the FIA said. It also sought original and attested copies of the complete file, including an attested copy of the board decision, the legal status of the agreement, and status of possession of 2400 kanal state land specified in the questioned agreement.

DHA promised CDA over 700 plots in 2007 in return for hundreds of kanal of state land

The FIA also asked about details of the plots promised by the DHA as per the agreement. It also asked the CDA about its stance on the state land in possession of a private developer, Emar, if any.

It is relevant to note that the CDA had acquired the land under two awards announced in 1961 and 1964 for its own use, but all of a sudden in 2007 it handed over the land to the DHA. As per its earlier announcements, the CDA would auction the plots to generate funds for development works.

Meanwhile, sources in CDA said that the matter of getting plots from DHA came under discussion during budget discussions at the civic agency. Almost every year’s budget showed that the said 700 plots were receivable assets.

In June last year, the CDA formed a four-member committee to visit the DHA and prepare a report.

The sources said that during the visit no official of DHA was present; however, representatives of a private company were present on behalf of the DHA. According to the visit report compiled by CDA officials, the representatives of the company briefed the CDA about the three sites where plots could be given. The report said that village Humak came under discussion but the land in this village already belonged to the CDA. The visiting team was also given a briefing on Sihala where the CDA’s report said the land was without possession, but locals were using it for cultivation. Similarly, the site of Niazian Dadocha also came under discussion during the visit, but according to the CDA, this land was adjacent to the Dodocha Dam site.

When contacted, a CDA director confirmed to Dawn about the FIA letter. He said the civic agency had shared details of the case in response to a previous letter by the FIA, adding that the complete record of the case would be provided to the investigation agency this time as well. “In response to the FIA letter, we are compiling the record to hand it over,” the director said.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2023