Special audit targets JUI-F chief's lands

Revenue board probes discrepancies in property tax payments

DI KHAN:

Land transfers involving properties registered in the names of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maulana Lutafur Rehman, Attaur Rehman and Ziaur Rehman have come under scrutiny after the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Board of Revenue ordered a special audit and verification of land records in Dera Ismail Khan and Paharpur over alleged irregularities.

According to an official letter dated back October 29, 2025, the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector DI Khan has been directed to conduct a detailed examination of property transfers, ownership documents and mutation registers relating to several properties in Abdul Khel, Shorikot and urban areas of the district.

The properties under scrutiny include a residential compound, a hujra and around 64 kanals of land in Abdul Khel; approximately 88 kanals and 24 kanals of commercial and agricultural land in Shorikot; and a residential and commercial property measuring 18 kanals and 12 marlas in urban DI Khan.

The audit observations have raised questions about land classification, oral mutations, declared property valuations and payment of government dues. The document also highlights discrepancies between declared and estimated property values, potentially resulting in short payments of stamp duty and Capital Value Tax (CVT).

The Board of Revenue has directed the district administration to take original land records and cadastral maps covering the period from 2002 to 2025 into safe custody. A precautionary entry is also to be recorded to prevent further transfers of the properties under investigation.

The authorities have further been asked to issue notices for recovery of any outstanding government dues and initiate departmental inquiries into the conduct of the revenue officials concerned.

Copies of the letter were also sent to the principal secretary to the chief minister, the director general of NAB Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the chief commissioner of the Federal Board of Revenue's Regional Tax Office in DI Khan, the divisional commissioner, the director of land records and the tehsildars of DI Khan and Paharpur.

However, the allegations and audit observations have not been independently verified. No response from the individuals concerned or details of a final inquiry or judicial determination were available.