ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has decided to conduct forensic audits of all the housing societies operating in Islamabad and asked the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to nominate a focal person in this regard.

The FIA has also asked the CDA to provide a suitable space to investigators scrutinising housing societies’ records.

In an official letter dated Aug 17, 2018, FIA Director Shakeel Durrani told CDA Chairman Ishrat Ali that the agency would conduct forensic audits of Islamabad’s housing societies under orders from the Supreme Court.

CDA asked to provide space to investigators, nominate focal person in letter from FIA director

The letter, which is available with Dawn, stated that the SC in its May 8 judgement had directed the FIA to hold forensic audits of all housing societies operating under the governing bodies and law enforcement agencies, under the supervision of the FIA director general.

The FIA in the letter requested a focal person to coordinate with the FIA teams as well as a suitable space or room for three to four weeks where the teams could look into records and their completion with the nominated focal person’s assistance. The CDA received the letter last week.

There are over 150 approved and unapproved housing societies in the capital, and most operators have not developed their societies according to their commitments with people who have bought land from them.

Many operators have taken over amenities plots that were originally reserved for mosques, schools and parks.

The CDA, meanwhile, has not taken concrete measures against powerful developers who have been found to be violating rules and regulations and earning billions from the public.

A couple of years ago, the CDA and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a report prepared on the directive of the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice pointed out massive irregularities in many housing societies in the capital whose operators had taken over amenities plots.

The CDA, it seems, restricted itself to public notices when it comes to illegal and unauthorised housing societies, which it issues to sensitise citizens.

The CDA websites states that there are 108 illegal housing societies in Islamabad, which it has also named.

The website states that there are 59 housing societies under the titles of private housing societies in Islamabad, and most of these do not have no-objection certificates (NOC) from the CDA.

However, they have gotten their layout plans approved that in many cases the CDA has withdrawn.

A source said there are currently just 24 housing societies that possess NOCs, but legal and illegal housing societies have continued to buy and sell land.

The source noted the example of Ghori Town, an illegal housing society that is thriving and now has many phases.

The CDA broke its silence on the sale and purchase of plots in illegal housing societies almost two years ago, when it linked utility connections to CDA NOCs and landed citizens in trouble.

By the time the CDA had banned utility connections, most societies had already sold plots to citizens.

Sources in the CDA said that authority has begun work in light of the FIA’s letter, and the agency will be informed of an available space for their teams within the next few days.

When asked whether the audit will cover all 109 illegal and 59 approved societies, an official said the CDA has the records of 59 societies that had applied for their layout plans or NOCs but “it will be up to the FIA whether they also probe housing societies”.

The housing society directorate falls under the administrative control of the member planning.

There is currently no regular member planning but Design Director General Ehsanul Haq is temporarily looking after the office.

When contacted, CDA spokesperson Rana Farhan promised to respond but did not give the CDA’s point of view on the recent FIA letter or the mushrooming of illegal housing societies until this report was filed.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2018