ISLAMABAD: A major land scandal has rocked the Capital Development Authority after the Federal Investigation Agency seized properties worth Rs4.2 billion from suspects involved in the fraudulent allotment of plots across Islamabad. The case surfaced during a Public Accounts Committee meeting reviewing CDA audit objections for the year 2023 to 24 and exposed serious irregularities in the allotment of 43 plots in different sectors of the capital.

Officials informed the committee that the suspected fraudulent allotments caused a direct financial loss of around Rs1.2 billion to the civic authority while also affecting genuine allottees. Several victims included widows, orphans and other vulnerable citizens whose rights were allegedly compromised through manipulated records and illegal plot transfers.

CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa told the committee that files of 240 plots originally allotted to affected persons had gone missing from the land directorate’s record. These plots were meant for individuals whose land had been acquired by the authority and who were compensated with residential plots in return. Preliminary findings suggested that many of the missing files were either bogus or contained major irregularities.

Federal Investigation Agency Director General Dr Usman Awan revealed that 57 individuals had been nominated in the case, including 46 CDA employees and 11 private individuals. Among the accused were assistant directors, deputy directors and additional directors. While several suspects have secured post arrest bail, others have been declared absconders and their national identity cards have been blocked while their names have been placed on the exit control list.

Dr Awan said assets worth Rs4.2 billion had been confiscated from the accused, which could be auctioned to compensate the affected citizens according to current market rates. Members of the Public Accounts Committee strongly criticised the alleged collusion within the civic body and questioned how millions of rupees worth of plots could be allotted to non genuine claimants.

The committee was also informed about other financial irregularities involving land compensation and abandoned development projects. Audit officials reported losses of Rs858.8 million due to improper compensation payments and another Rs358 million caused by incomplete works, prompting lawmakers to demand strict accountability and immediate relief for genuine victims.