Two RDA officers suspended amid residential project probe

Investigation into developer's financial affairs is underway

RAWALPINDI:

Two officers were suspended from service on Friday after the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) confirmed the unlawful approval of the University Town residential project, which was granted without meeting the necessary legal requirements, thereby constituting fraud and deceiving the public.

A Deputy Director and an Assistant Director have been suspended from service. This follows the suspension of four RDA staff members the previous day.

The Director General of RDA has written to the Chief Commissioner of the Large Taxpayers' Office and the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, requesting full details regarding the properties and financial matters of the University Town developers.

These details are to be presented before the RDA Joint Investigation Team (JIT). A report on the actions taken has also been submitted to the Secretary of Housing, Punjab.

According to a notification issued by Director General RDA, Kinza Murtaza, Deputy Director of Town Planning, Muhammad Samiullah Niazi, has been suspended for negligence in overseeing the University Town project. Assistant Director of Town Planning, Shazia Tanveer, has been suspended for approving the layout plan of the project.

Additionally, Scheme Inspector Muhammad Tariq, Senior Draftsman Muhammad Afzal, Scheme Superintendent Syed Shafqat Mehmood, and Assistant Director LDA Dilshad Ali had already been suspended.