Ex-CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry’s son-in-law arrested from Dubai in Eden Housing scam

Former CJP’s son Arsalan Iftikhar also involved in the case

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday swung into action and arrested Murtaza Amjad, son-in-law of former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry from Dubai after the prime minister sought report from authorities on a multi-billion rupees housing scam in the wake of a protest.

Last week, the affected people had held a demonstration outside the Zaman Park, residence of Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore, requesting him to help them recover their looted money by the influential group that launched the housing scheme with false promises of providing shelter and plots.



They also demanded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government to take measures for bringing back Eden Housing group owner Dr Amjad and other accused from abroad.

According to details, the number of affected people is around 10,000. In April, Dr Amjad and his two sons, including Murtaza Amjad, fled the country after the interior ministry did not respond to a request by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for placing their names on the Exit Control List (ECL).

“Murtaza Amjad, son-in-law of former CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry, has been arrested from Dubai,” Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told reporters on Wednesday outside the parliament house.

The minister claimed that the former CJP’s son Arsalan Iftikhar is also involved in the scam, adding that arrest of Amjad is manifestation of the fact that the PTI government is serious in the process of accountability.

Chaudhry said the premier has sought a report about the other accused including Arsalan Iftikhar and the former CJP’s daughter and her father-in-law Dr Amjad who is the owner of the scheme. He said the scam had surfaced during Chaudhry’s tenure as the chief justice and he gave relief to the accused.

“The criminal proceedings were initiated against them by NAB over the charges of depriving thousands of affectees of their hard earned money worth billions of rupees,” he added.

NAB had summoned owners of the housing society to appear before its investigators in April this year and issued notices to Dr Amjad, Anum Amjad, Murtaza Amjad and Mustafa Amjad.

The accountability watchdog had also acquired details of the properties of the owners of housing society. The probe revealed that the owners had at least 111 commercial plots in the Eden Housing projects in Lahore alone.

The accused had eight commercial plots near Eden Canal Villas and Canal Road. They also had 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.



In February, NAB had also requested the Interior Ministry to place names of the accused on the no-fly list but a delay in this regard on part of ministry provided the accused with a chance to flee Pakistan.

After their alleged escape, NAB approached the Interior Ministry again for the issuance of red notices to bring the accused back, but the ministry once again raised objections, citing an “incomplete application submitted by NAB”.

However, affectees of the multi-billion rupees scam got timely relief after Prime Minister Imran Khan sought a report from the concerned quarters regarding involvement of the accused.