LAHORE: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore Director General Amjad Majeed Aulakh says that a crackdown has been on illegal housing schemes in the city and adjoining areas.

NAB Lahore held a monthly open court at its Thokar Niaz Baig headquarters in which some 400 affectees of the real estate participated. Mr Aulakh personally heard the affectees and issued instructions.

The affectees of various housing schemes, including Khayaban-e-Amin, Pak-Arab, Professional Cooperative Housing Society, Al-Falah, Prime Zone, New Lahore City, Al-Rehman Garden Phase-4, La Villa De Paris, Toyota Motors Gujranwala, Greater Lahore Cooperative Society and Airport Avenue Housing Society Sialkot, sought redress of their issues and compensation for their losses.

Assuring the affectees of Khayaban-e-Amin, the DG said the top priority of NAB was to release their plots and apartments as per commitment. He said if necessary, NAB would oversee the development of the society through the Lahore Development Authority (LDA).

Regarding the Pak-Arab Housing Society, Mr Aulakh instructed the investigation team to seek immediate action by the LDA based on the victims’ complaints. He also issued orders to approach the judiciary to cancel the bail of the accused if they did not comply with the bail conditions. “NAB is taking steps to return the victims’ money by selling the properties of the accused,” he added.

For the Professional Cooperative Housing Society, orders were issued to sell the properties of its owners to compensate the victims.

Addressing Prime Zone victims, the DG said that NAB had frozen 300 kanals of the land associated with administration. “The investigation is progressing quickly, with claims of 1,564 victims amounting to Rs830m.”

In the Al-Rehman Garden Phase-4 case, the DG issued orders to summon the accused immediately, emphasizing NAB’s efforts to facilitate the victims with plots.

The DG also instructed New Lahore City affectees to register their complaints with NAB Complaints Cell without any delay. For the Al-Falah Cooperative Housing Society, he ordered immediate disciplinary action by the investigation team.

Discussing La Villa De Paris, Mr Aulakh highlighted that the project administration was willing to return the full amount to the victims.

Addressing Toyota Motors Gujranwala victims, the DG stated that despite efforts to auction the accused’s properties, success had been elusive. However, the delivery of the remaining assets to the victims would commence after the sale of these properties.

Mr Aulakh issued an order to send the complaints of Lahore Cooperative Housing, Airport Avenue Housing Society Sialkot and QLinks Properties affectees to the relevant registrar cooperatives for disciplinary action.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2024