ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA), which normally asks for several certificates and documents for allotment of even a five-marla plot, surprisingly did not object to the allotment of 22 plots to a person even after he changed his name along with his father’s.

The said individual was allotted 22 plots against 84 kanals of land acquired by the CDA in Sector D-13, and the fact was highlighted in the audit report 2023-24.

The audit para titled ‘doubtful allotment of 22 residential plots’ stated that according to the CDA Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Regulation 2007 (land sharing basis), the civic agency will acquire land on a sharing basis, meaning a developed plot of one kanal will be allotted to the land owner in the same sector for every four kanals.

The audit said that as per the land revenue report, land measuring 88 kanals and six marlas was the property of Mohammad Akhtar Tahir, son of Mohammad Ashraf Tahir.

However, the owner submitted a request to the CDA, saying that he had changed his name from M. Akhtar Tahir s/o Mohammad Ashraf Tahir to Mohammad Azhar s/o Mirza Mohammad Ali in the CNIC obtained from Nadra. He subsequently requested the allotment in his new name, which was granted by the CDA.

Individual allotted land without due verification even after he acquired new identity

The audit observed that the allotment of 22 plots was made on the basis of CNIC without corresponding changes in the revenue record — land award, Naqsha-II, Fard etc. — and the verification of educational degrees, certificates, ‘nikahnama’ and police report. According to the audit report, this is a doubtful allotment on the basis of an unauthentic title.

In the land revenue record, the ownership of above 88 kanals and six marlas was still in the name of Mohammad Akhtar. “This resulted in doubtful allotment of 22 residential plots without detailed verification and fact-finding inquiry for [the] real owner, amounting to Rs440 million. (number of plots 22 @ Rs 20.00 million each),” the report stated.

The audit pointed out doubtful allotment during June 2023.

According to the report, the CDA replied that a civil judge in Lahore in 2016 directed Nadra to cancel the CNIC issued in the name of Mohammad Akhtar. “Hence, [the] deputy commissioner, CDA took all the due measures while making [a] change of name in [the] revenue record.”

The response of the CDA was not accepted, however, as the relevant record was not produced by the civic body in support of its reply. The audit report said the Departmental Audit Committee meeting was also not convened by the principal accounting officer despite repeated requests in October, November and December of 2023.

The audit recommended the provision of the complete case along with the judgement of the civil judge and details of the name change in the DC CDA record in favour of the allottee.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2024