Ex-CDA member held in Islamabad over Rs1b land scam

The Anti-Money Laundering Cell of Islamabad has arrested former Capital Development Authority (CDA) Member Afnan Alam and property dealer Jabbar for their involvement in creating fake reports that led to a loss of over Rs1 billion to the treasury and rightful owners.

According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials, Afnan Alam, who previously served as a Member Estate at the CDA, was involved in a corruption scheme with other CDA staff.

They fraudulently allocated 62 plots in Sector I-15, Islamabad, to undeserving individuals, causing a financial loss of one billion rupees.

The arrested property dealer, Jabbar, was also part of this scheme.

Apart from this, Afnan Alam also has a case registered against him at the Corporate Crime Circle in Islamabad.

He allegedly accumulated illegal assets in his and his wife's name and invested in properties in Sector G-14 using funds acquired through corruption.

Last month, on July 15, an investigation revealed that a private transport company, which had been operating the shuttle bus service in the Diplomatic Enclave on a contract basis, allegedly embezzled Rs288 million in collusion with officials from the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA).

The owners of Bilal Travel committed fraud which is attributed to the alleged negligence and conspiracy of the relevant DMA officials.

Informed sources told The Express Tribune that Haji Nawaz and Amjad, the owners of Bilal Travel, secured a contract worth Rs96 million per annum to operate the Diplomatic Enclave Bus Service, initiated by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to facilitate citizens visiting the embassies in the Diplomatic Enclave Shuttle Bus Service from across the country.