225-kanal govt land illegally sold in Punjab

LAHORE: A large-scale land fraud involving government-owned property has come to light, leading to the arrest of at least four officials of the Punjab Cooperative Board for Liquidation (PCBL) and the registration of an FIR against multiple officials and private individuals.

The Anti-Corruption Department has launched an investigation into allegations that valuable government land under PCBL was illegally occupied and sold using forged documents.

According to the FIR, available with The News and shared by PCBL Secretary Faisal Atta, four PCBL officials have been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Lahore. PCBL secretary Faisal Atta told The News the board would not interfere in the investigation and would let ACE to decide the matter to ensure justice is served. The FIR has been lodged under Sections 409, 420, 468, 471, 166, and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), along with relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). The case has been assigned to the Circle Officer of Anti-Corruption Lahore for further investigation.

According to the initial findings, approximately 225 kanals of government land, situated in various locations, were illegally transferred with the collusion of PCBL officials. The land, recorded under khewat numbers 382, 345, 359, 136, 158, and 554, was fraudulently converted into private housing schemes. It was discovered that plots were illegally developed, fake documents were created, and properties were sold to unsuspecting buyers.

The fraudulent scheme allegedly involved several high-ranking PCBL officials who had facilitated the illegal occupation and sale of government land. Despite an official inquiry and directives from the Lahore High Court to conduct a detailed land survey, PCBL staff members had reportedly obstructed the process, enabling land grabbers to maintain control. Furthermore, properties previously seized by authorities were reoccupied through collusion between land grabbers and corrupt officials.

The Anti-Corruption Department has named 41 individuals in the FIR, including government officials, property consultants, and private beneficiaries. Those named include PCBL officials, IT managers, property consultants, security officers, revenue officers, and clerks.

Authorities have vowed to take strict action against those responsible and recover the illegally occupied government land. The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are expected.

The Regional Directorate of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Lahore Region has summoned key officials of PCBL for an inquiry into alleged financial irregularities.

According to an official notice available with The News, issued under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the officials are required to appear on January 31, 2025, at noon at the Anti-Corruption Establishment Office, Judicial Colony, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore. They must bring relevant records, witness testimonies, and financial statements regarding Recovery Manager Waqar Ahmed and others.

The ACE has sought investment records of the 102 Finance Corporation and directed PCBL to submit details of 200,000 investors, including their names, CNICs, addresses, and records of full and partial payments. The agency has also sought data about declined claims, along with reasons and official orders from the board of directors.

Additionally, ACE has instructed PCBL to present names, CNICs, and liabilities of defaulting directors, copies of court rulings on 14,707 mortgaged properties transferred to PCBL, details of properties on Davis Road, Lahore, including rental agreements and auction records, and clarification on reports that out of 14,707 loan files, 2,088 are missing.

The notice specifically calls for the appearance of key PCBL officials, including: Muhammad Waqar (Recovery Manager) , Mujahid Iqbal (Recovery Manager), Faisal Abbas (Recovery Manager) and Khalid Mehmood (Recovery Manager) These officials are responsible for claims, recoveries, and financial records over the past decade. The summons warns that failure to appear will result in legal action under Sections 172-173 of the Pakistan Penal Code.