FIA unveils scandal involving CDA ex-boss

Allegedly gave illegal benefits to various contractors.

ISLAMABAD:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has uncovered a multi-billion rupee scandal involving Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman, who allegedly misused his authority by giving illegal benefit to various Islamabad-based contractors and land developers, sources revealed.

The official record – a copy of which is made available with Express Investigation Cell (EIC) – suggests that after getting adequate evidences against the CDA’s chief Furkhand Iqbal – a 20-grade officer – the FIA nabbed him last January.

Since his arrest, the former CDA chairman is facing investigations in different corruption cases including those related to approval of extra floors to different high-rise buildings in violation of the rules and conducting shady auctions of commercial plots worth billions of rupees.

The FIA initiated the inquiry against Iqbal in 2011 after discovering his assets beyond his means and issued him four notices to appear before the inquiry officer to record a statement, but he never responded positively till his arrest last January.

Sources said apart from the corruption cases, the former CDA chairman Furkhand Iqbal was also facing a separate inquiry in a 870-kanal land purchase scam. The case of the purchase of the land in Fateh Jang in 1997 had surfaced during FIA probe.

According to the investigators, Fateh Jang revenue department has no record of receiving payment from Furkhand Iqbal or any of his dependents for procurement of the land. The FIA investigators believe that Iqbal got this huge land as a kickback for giving some undue benefit to its owners, when he was serving in Punjab Agriculture Department in 1997. Furkhand Iqbal was serving with Punjab government till 1998. His services were later transferred to the federal government.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2014.