National Police Foundation: 10 plots ‘illegally’ allotted at throw-away prices

MD NPF cancels ‘illegal’ allotment of 10 pricey plots by the former Punjab police chief on his last day.

LAHORE: The managing director (MD) of the National Police Foundation (NPF) has cancelled ‘illegal’ allotment of 10 pricey plots by the former Punjab police chief on his last day as the NPF head, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Meanwhile, scrutiny showed more dubious deals struck by PML-N legislator Anjum Aqeel Khan worth billions of rupees in the NPF.

The NPF chief, Zafar Ahmad Qureshi, confirmed the cancellation of plots and reports of more fraud in the foundation.

On his last day as the managing director of the National Police Foundation, Khwaja Khalid Farooq allegedly allotted 10 precious plots to his ‘blue-eyed’ police officials at throw-away prices in back dates. (See table for details of the beneficiaries)

Interestingly, the record shows that the allotments were made on May 5 last year. But neither Farooq nor any other NPF member mentioned the date along with their signatures on documents.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the officials who were obliged by the NPF chief later sold the plots at a hundred times more than their purchase price, thus causing huge losses to the NPF.

When the scam was unearthed, the NPF’s incumbent chief ordered an inquiry. Subsequently, the NPF management decided to issue notices to Farooq and other beneficiaries.

On the other hand, Anjum Aqeel Khan has offered in an affidavit to hand over land worth of Rs5.8 billion against his liability.

Sources said that Khan had misappropriated land measuring about 300 kanals in connivance with former officials of the NPF.

The NPF board of governors met on Saturday to discuss Khan’s offer. And subsequently they sent the offer along with their reservations to the federal interior secretary for approval.

The NPF chief also decided to summon Ajum Aqeel again for further investigation. Former MD Iftikhar Ahmed, former housing additional directors Abdul Hannan, Khuda Bakhsh and Laeeq Ahmed Khan have also been summoned on February 28 for their alleged involvement in the Rs6 billions scam.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.