Housing scam report not made public

Officials said findings being held back due to pressure.

ISLAMABAD: The investigation report on a mega financial scandal in the National Assembly Employees Housing Society (NAEHS) is yet to be made public. Officials said the sub-committee of the National Assembly on House and Library was holding back the findings due to pressure from different fronts.

However, the committee led by MNA Sheikh Waqas Akram called the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the members of NAEHS on January 20 to inform them about the report.

The sub-committee was formed four months back by Deputy Speaker National Assemby Faisal Karim Kundi after details of massive irregularities surfaced.

The society has been administered by the Deputy Secretary of National Assembly Tariq Ayub Khakwani for the past three years.

After three months of investigations, a comprehensive report was prepared by the committee in light of the statements by CDA officials, local administration, circle registrar and office bearers of the society.

Talking to The Express Tribune, one of the committee members MNA Anjum Aqeel said that the report would in most likelihood be presented in the next session of the NA.

“The AGM has been called on January 20 and the findings will be shared with the members, who will be taken into confidence about the progress on the issue,” he said. Besides, he added that the future line of action would be evolved in consultation with the members about the management of the society.

Sources said that due to tremendous pressure from different fronts, the report could be made public or presented in the National Assembly.

As many as 3,000 investors have lost their hard-earned money by purchasing bogus files in the name of land and most of them are employees of the NA.

Despite repeated efforts, the sub-committee chairman Sheikh Waqas could not be contacted for comments.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2011.