'Scam victims won't get compensatory land'

CDA says only financial compensation to be offered following new rehab regulations

ISLAMABAD:

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has said it will no longer offer land scam victims with compensatory land following the approval of the Rehabilitation Regulations 2024.

According to sources, financial compensation will be offered to victims of land fraud.

They said the decision aims to bring relief to individuals whose land and homes were lost to fraudulent schemes within the CDA's land department.

The civic agency has long been plagued by land frauds.

The regulations were passed at the 16th CDA Board meeting held at the CDA Headquarters on Wednesday. Chaired by CDA Chairman and Islamabad Chief Commissioner, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, the meeting brought together all board members to address pressing issues on the agenda.

One major decision was to make Capital Emergency Services fully operational.

Moving forward, the Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management and Rescue 1122 will report to the Director General of Capital Emergency Services.

Specialist personnel for these services will be hired on a contractual basis to ensure swift and effective responses to emergencies.

Chairman Randhawa emphasised the need to streamline promotion processes for CDA officers and staff, urging an acceleration in promotional activities across the board. Additionally, to safeguard the agency's digital infrastructure, the CDA will contract a cybersecurity firm.

This partnership aims to strengthen the CDA's IT Directorate with enhanced security measures against potential cyber threats.

The board meeting also highlighted the extensive losses caused by land fraud within the CDA.

According to the board, property mafias, in collaboration with certain CDA officials, have exploited loopholes to acquire valuable plots fraudulently, resulting in billions of rupees in losses.

Multiple internal inquiries into these scams have been obstructed over the years, as influential property mafias undermined at least five departmental investigations.

Three years ago, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intervened, filing cases to probe the claims, but progress has been limited.

Currently, the FIA is reviewing 42,000 plot files related to these land fraud allegations.

However, the investigations have been criticised for their narrow focus, particularly on a single former senior CDA official, without expanding to other potential suspects involved.

In light of these findings, Chairman Randhawa directed an overhaul in the policy for allotting valuable plots, with the new regulations shifting from offering replacement plots to financial compensation for victims.

This regulatory change aims to curb exploitation and provide immediate relief to affected parties without further complicating land allotments.

The approval of these regulations signals a firm commitment to rehabilitate victims and restore integrity to the CDA's land management practices.