RDA deputy director arrested in land scam

Anti-corruption officers allege Niazi allotted land illegally

RAWALPINDI:

A senior officer of the development authority of e garrison city landed in the clutches of anti-corruption body over allegations of illegal sale of land.

Rawalpindi Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has arrested the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Deputy Director Planning Samilullah Niazi for his alleged involvement in a plot scam and causing damage to the national exchequer.

ACE Rawalpindi Director Kanwal Batool, while talking to The Express Tribune, said that investigation was under way against RDA Deputy Director Niazi. According to ACE officials a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) carried out a probe in to allegations that Deputy Director Niazi was involved in allotment of land against rules and regulations. During the investigation it was found that the deputy director approved the sale of plots in a private housing scheme established on Fateh Jhang Road without the approval of the competent authority and fulfilling legal obligations.

The JIT recommended filing a case against Niazi as well as other officials including RDA Scheme Inspector Shehzad Mehmood.

Hence, Rawalpindi ACE Director Batool issued orders to arrest the RDA official and handed over the investigation to the ACE Rawalpindi Circle Officer Zahid Zahoor.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2020.