Close inspection: Commission to probe alleged corruption in CDA

The 3-member commission will be paid a combined Rs5m for three months of work.

ISLAMABAD:

There are over 600 cases related to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) pending with the IHC and the district court, many alleging corruptions and misappropriations.

The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) failure to address these allegations has led to the setting up of a court-appointed probe team.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of Islamabad High Court (IHC) constituted a judicial commission on Wednesday in response to identical petitions calling attention to alleged corruption in the civic agency.

The commission will be headed by former Supreme Court judge Sardar Raza Khan. Two retired sessions’ judges, Sakhi Muhammad Kahut and Baqir Ali Rana, are also part of the commission. IHC Additional Registrar Abdul Qadir Memon will be the focal person for coordination and facilitation.

The commission will be compensated well for their time, with Khan to receive Rs3 million for three months of service, while the other two judges will receive Rs1 million each for the same tenure. The CDA will be footing the salary bill, and payment is due within a week.

Justice Siddiqui observed that 622 CDA-related cases are pending before the district court and the IHC, along with another 837 civil cases pending in the district court.

He said the common perception about the CDA is that in the organisation, the “inbuilt culture considers rules irrelevant, and bribes, commissions and kickbacks are considered as rights” while advancing “personal agendas at the cost of the interests of the organisation are norms”.

The judgement further says that it is a common observation that the organisational behaviour of the CDA is rife with corrupt practices. Ordinary citizens run from pillar to post for legitimate work but finds no one listens to them.

The commission would scrutinise the record of all CDA directorates and would examine different development and special projects initiated by the authority. Matters pending before the courts would be scrutinised for whether legal formalities and transparency regarding the projects were fulfilled. If not, the commission would identify the officials responsible.

The commission will also determine the losses incurred due to the negligence of CDA officials as well as any personal gains the officials received.

The commission is supposed to submit a report in three months and will be empowered to inspect CDA records, conduct physical inspection if deemed necessary, and to summon any records or witnesses.

Some of the pending cases

Alleged illegal construction and tendering for Monal Restaurant at Pir Sohawa

Failure to collect Rs350 million from a contractor who did not complete roadwork on IJP Road from Faizabad to Pirwadhai

Granting permission for a 47-storey Hyatt hotel complex near Jinnah Convention Centre

Centaurus land allotment

Park Tower land allotment

The LED streetlight project

The Kuri Model village scam

Allotments at prime locations like Rawal Dam, Saidpur Model village, Gun Club and the diplomatic enclave

The diplomatic enclave shuttle service contract

D-12 extension and work in E-11 sector

Allotment of plots reserved for school to favourites

Agrofarm allotments

The Arts and Craft village scandal

Margalla Towers

Permitting cooperative societies to launch housing schemes without NOCs

Massive contractual recruitment made without a competitive process

Carving commercial and residential plots from parks and playgrounds

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2012.