After Ashiana and Paragon, NAB probes Eden projects

Anti-graft watchdog summons the owners of the housing society

LAHORE: In an important development, the National Accountability Bureau Lahore (NAB) has ordered to freeze the properties of the administration of Eden housing projects.

The anti-graft watchdog has also summoned the owners of the housing society to appear before the bureau. The notices were issued against Dr Amjad, Anum Amjad, Murtaza Amjad and Mustafa Amjad. NAB has also acquired the details of the properties of the owners of Eden Housing Society which revealed that that the owners had at least 111 commercial plots in Eden housing projects in Lahore alone.

The accused have eight commercial plots near Eden Canal Villas and Canal Road. They also have two commercial plots of four kanals near the airport. NAB’s initial inquiry revealed that the accused had two commercial plots of 10 marlas in Eden City near the new airport.

NAB has also found evidence of property owned by the accused in Eden Abad, Defence Road that was entitled to Eden Housing and its directors. They have 404 kanals of land entitled to them in the name of Capital Land Developers in Mauza Tamma, Chatha and Mohriyan.

They also had 333 kanals of land in the name of Golden Earth and AM Form in Mauza Bhaghrian and Zila Dharma Chandar.

NAB investigations have found 26 commercial plots against their name in a project named Eden Residentia.



The anti-graft watchdog has also sealed eight acres near Canal Road. NAB Lahore has also frozen all the accounts of their bank accounts.

NAB has also uploaded a complaint form against Eden administration for the public to register their complaints on ww.nab.gov.pk.

NAB received at least 2,000 complaints against Eden housing projects so far. Electricity connections of Eden Bollywood Phase-II have been restored by Lahore Electric Supply Company on the intervention of NAB.

A week ago DG NAB had decided to initiate an inquiry against all the projects of Eden when a huge number of victims had protested against it. In February, DG NAB Lahore Saleem Shahzad had conducted an open court to listen to the complaints of victims of corruption. Over 90% complaints were received against the housing societies and Lahore NAB DG had ordered to initiate action against Elite Town, Eden Housing, Shujah Town, Formanites Housing Scheme, Khyaban-e-Amin, Model Housing Enclaves and Awan Enterprises.

NAB was already investigating against Paragon Housing Society and Ashiana Housing Scheme. In Ashiana scam, six accused including former LDA DG Ahad Cheema has been arrested. NAB has also summoned Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and secretary to Prime Minister of Pakistan Fawad Hassan Fawad. In Paragon Housing Society scam, NAB has summoned and questioned Federal Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique.

Proceeding further in Paragon Housing Society case, NAB has written to different departments to conduct inquiries about the assets and properties of the owners and the administration of the housing society.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2018.