–Federal Land Commission had illegally allotted 3,000 kanals of land on basis of fake documents 10 years ago
–ACE Lahore director says will finalise case after thorough probe into fraud
LAHORE: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Lahore Region has taken notice of illegal allotment of 3,000 kanals of land from five different mauzas [revenue estates] of the city by the Federal Land Commission (FLC), Pakistan Today has learnt.
The agricultural reforms land from Thokar Niaz Baig, Rakh Khamba, Rakh Pura, Sattukatla and Rakh Sultan mauzas had been allotted on the basis of bogus orders and fake documents some 10 years ago.
As per the details, former MNA Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jelani, who was the chairman of FLC in 2009, had illegally allotted a piece of land in Wapda Town Scheme to his relatives, namely Abdul Rasheed Farooqi and Haji Habib, by falsely presenting them as farmers.
Similarly, a land stretched at 693 kanals and one marla in Mauza Rakh Pura had illegally been allotted to Muhammad Asghar and Basheer.
“The mutation numbers of the allotments were illegally registered and a clerk from the office of the senior member of Board of Revenue (BOR) was also involved in the fraud. He forged signatures on the documents to allot the land, value of which falls around Rs20 to 30 million per kanal,” sources said.
They added that these land grabbers also allotted some from Mauza Thokar Niaz Baig to themselves. “The land was stretched on 691 kanals and 19 marlas whereas they applied the mutation of 300 kanals of land out of the total 691 in the same old khasra.”
The remaining 391 kanals of land was transferred separately so that the fraud catches no attention.
Sources further said that a bogus decision to cancel the allotments was also sought and a bogus verdict for the restoration of the allotments was later prepared by the accused.
“In Mauza Ameer Pura, a piece of land stretched on 295 kanals on 19 marlas was allotted to Syed Jameel Hussain Shah and after his death the accused fraudulently transferred it to Abdul Rasheed Farooqi and Muhammad Ishaq.”
Similarly in Mauza Bhuptian, a land piece of 408 kanals and 11 marla was transferred to this very mafia under Muhammad Aashiq’s name, they added.
“In Mauza Sattukatla, a piece of land stretched at 190 kanals and 6 marlas was illegally transferred to Karam Din s/o Shamas Din and Kherat Ali with a mutation number of 34648 while in Mauza Rakh Pura, almost 422 kanals and in Thokar Niaz Baig almost 366 kanals and 12 marlas were illegally allotted.”
“The officials of BOR and Patwari Rizwan Butt have earned billions by sheltering these land grabbers,” they said.
Initiating a probe into the fraud, ACE has now ordered the authorities concerned to provide all records of these mauzas.
ACE Lahore Region Director Asghar Joiya confirmed that initial inquiry of the fraud had been initiated. “We have attained the complete record of 10 years and will finalise the case after a thorough investigation,” he added.
