Staff Reporter
Lahore:A major scandal of government land grabbing and sale through fake documents has come to light, resulting in cases being registered against dozens of government officials and private individuals. The Anti-Corruption Department has arrested four officers and initiated an investigation, under which it has been revealed that valuable government land of the Punjab Cooperative Board for Liquidation (PCBL) was illegally transferred and sold. Secretary Punjab Cooperative Board for Liquidation, Faisal Atta told The News that Anti-Corruption Punjab has arrested four officers. We will let Anti-Corruption conduct an independent inquiry. So that the corrupt elements can be brought to justice. According to the FIR available to The News, the case has been registered under sections 409, 420, 468, 471, 166 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which also includes relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). The case has been handed over to the Circle Officer of Anti-Corruption Lahore for further investigation. According to the initial report, about 225 kanals of government land were illegally transferred to different places. In this scandal, the land was converted into private housing schemes through forged documents with the connivance of PCBL officers. The investigation revealed that illegal plotting was done on the land, fake documents were prepared and the land was sold to innocent citizens. Evidence has been found of the involvement of several senior PCBL officers in the corruption, who facilitated the illegal possession and sale. Despite the Lahore High Court ordering a detailed survey of the land, PCBL officials obstructed the investigation and allowed the land mafia to continue to occupy it. Moreover, the confiscated properties were illegally seized again by the land mafia. The Anti-Corruption Department has named 41 people in the FIR, including government officers, property consultants and private individuals. The persons involved include PCBL’s IT manager, property consultants, security officers, revenue officers and clerks. Moreover, these persons have been named under anti-corruption laws, who were involved in forgery and illegal sale. According to the authorities, strict action will be taken against all those involved in this scandal and the illegally occupied government land will be taken back. Investigations are underway and more arrests are expected. The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Lahore Region has summoned key officers of PCBL for investigation into financial irregularities. According to the notice received by The News, the officers have been directed to appear at the Anti-Corruption Establishment’s office in Judicial Colony, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore on January 31, 2025 at 12 noon. Anti-Corruption has sought complete records of investments made in 102 Finance Corporation. This includes names, identity card numbers, addresses, and full or partial records of payments of two lakh investors. In addition, ACE has also sought records of 14,707 mortgaged properties that were transferred to PCBL. The notice has ordered the presence of key officers of PCBL including Muhammad Waqar (Recovery Manager), Mujahid Iqbal (Recovery Manager), Faisal Abbas (Recovery Manager), and Khalid Mahmood (Recovery Manager), who were responsible for claims, recoveries and financial matters during the last ten years. If the summoned officers do not appear, legal action will be taken against them under sections 172 and 173 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
