Irregularities in plots sale sealed fate of Farkhand Iqbal, board members

The inquiry was ordered following allegations of foul play in plots bidding.

ISLAMABAD:

The report that sealed the fate of former CDA chairman Farkhand Iqbal recommended that he and other CDA board members be replaced with “competent” officers.

The report was submitted to Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf by Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi. She was tasked with investigating allegations of foul play in the pre-qualification of bids for plots in the extended Blue Area.

The report pointed out that Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) top management, led by former chairman Farkhand Iqbal, violated rules and created an embarrassing situation for the government, besides defaming the top civic agency. The board’s original decision to hold an open auction was changed without following existing procedures, stated the report.

Sethi recommended in the report that rules be amended to choose board members from the public and private sectors, to make it independent and autonomous. She also recommended that the CDA board’s composition be revised to ensure fair and transparent decisions.

The report also recommended that a provision in the Islamabad Land Disposal Regulations 2005 on auctions through pre-qualification bids be omitted to ensure transparency and fair play in future.

The report said that the “very attractive perk” of allotting plots to deputationists in CDA be revoked to discourage officials from seeking postings in the authority to get free land in Islamabad.

The report states that for employees in grades 17 to 20, a reasonable quota of plots may be reserved in federal government housing schemes like for other civil servants.

For CDA employees in grades 16 and below, housing schemes should be initiated immediately to put an end to the allotment of plots. This will facilitate most employees in getting their own house before retirement, said the report.

The report praised CDA director estate for declining to issue letters of pre-qualification to sixteen firms, despite repeated directions from the chairman and the board. The reports states that he exhibited “moral courage”.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2012.