Woman ‘swindled’ out of Rs100m in Lahore

When Anwar tried to sell the plots she realised that the documents were bogus

LAHORE: A woman has come forward and claimed she was swindled out of her hard-earned money by suspected land grabber Malik Mansha Ali Khokhar, also known as ‘Mansha Bomb’.

Holding a news conference at the Lahore Press Club on Thursday, Rukhsana Anwar, an overseas Pakistani, revealed that she was a resident of the UK. She added that she had returned to Pakistan with all of her savings.

However, she claimed to have been swindled out of this money by Mansha’s frontmen, including Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director Nauman, bank manager Jamshed as well as LDA officials Mehmood Ahmed, Mian Nadeem Abid, State Officer Rana Shafqat, Inspector Shabbir Ahmed, Inspector Mazharullah, Ali Aslam, Faisal Sarwar and Shoaib Qureshi. “Together, these men have swindled Rs100 million from me,” she said.

Rukhsana alleges that the accused handed her forged documents after ‘selling’ her plots. They gave her possession of land which was already owned by someone else.

Before buying the plots, Anwar said she went to LDA’s office for verification. She added that LDA Director Nauman, AD Mehmood Ahmed, AD Mian Nadeem Abid and State Officer Rana Shafqat told her to buy the plots.

She went on to say that she had possession of the plots since 2009. However, when she tried to sell them, she realised that the documents were bogus. LDA had informed her that the plots had not been sold to anyone.

“How is it possible that the documents, which were once confirmed and verified, are now bogus,” she maintained. She added that the accused would visit every six months and ask for money under the pretence of ‘verification’.

“These men are part of a land grabbing ring that is defrauding and looting innocent citizens,” she stated. Anwar added her life had also been threatened. “They have threatened to murder my only son,” she alleged. She threatened to set herself on fire if justice was not served.

“What image will this present to the whole world,” she said. “It will tarnish the image of Pakistan,” she added. “Overseas Pakistanis are ambassadors for the country. We always try to portray a soft image of the country and this is how they treat us?” she asked.