Shady plot allotments: Probe body recommends action against four officials
Committee submits findings to CDA chief; over 100 questionable allotments were made.
At least 18 of the 109 officers who were issued offer letters are working on deputation and many are not eli ible for residential plots. PHOTO: FILE.
ISLAMABAD:
A committee probing the illegal allotment of residential plots to some 109 officers has recommended disciplinary action against four officers of the civic agency including former estate management director.
Sources close to the development informed The Express Tribune that the fact-finding committee headed by CDA environment member Dr Kazim Niaz, has submitted its report to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman.
“The chairman has directed that the findings and recommendations be presented in the next CDA board meeting to determine what course of action can be taken against those involved,” the officer added.
On January 9, 2013, then estate management director Naveedul Haque, who is currently the enforcement director, issued offer letters to officers in BS-17, BS-18 and BS-19 in sectors I-8 and D-12 in pursuance of an earlier dubious balloting of plots held in July 2012.
The move caught the attention of the CDA employees union, which on January 10 organised a protest outside CDA offices and demanded immediate cancellation of the offer letters.
Union representatives were of the view that plots were given in violation of court orders, staying the process and termed the move “tantamount to usurping the rights of CDA employees”.
The same day, CDA Chairman Tahir Shahbaz cancelled the offer letters issued to the officials, including officers working on deputation.
The chairman had also clarified that the offer letters issued on January 9 have no legal standing, as they were issued without his approval.
Shahbaz ordered setting up of an inquiry committee with Niaz its chairman and estate member Shaista Sohail as its member.
As many as 18 of the 109 officers who were issued offer letters are working on deputation and a number of them were not eligible for residential plot under CDA rules.
In 2005, the Supreme Court had defined the criteria for allotment of plots to officers on deputation in the CDA while disposing of a petition on the issue.
An officer would need to have 10 years of service in other government departments and one-year service in the CDA to be eligible for a residential plot.
Though most of the officers and officials who were issued offer letters qualify for a residential plot, they are only the handpicked few, as many other eligible officials are still waiting for their turn.
In addition, on December 14, 2012, Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf issued instructions that officers working on deputation in the civic agency would no longer be allotted residential plots.
However, the ban only applied to officers who had joined the authority after the directions were issued.
Both Niaz and Sohail were unavailable for comment, while the CDA spokesperson expressed ignorance about the development.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2013.
A committee probing the illegal allotment of residential plots to some 109 officers has recommended disciplinary action against four officers of the civic agency including former estate management director.
Sources close to the development informed The Express Tribune that the fact-finding committee headed by CDA environment member Dr Kazim Niaz, has submitted its report to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman.
“The chairman has directed that the findings and recommendations be presented in the next CDA board meeting to determine what course of action can be taken against those involved,” the officer added.
On January 9, 2013, then estate management director Naveedul Haque, who is currently the enforcement director, issued offer letters to officers in BS-17, BS-18 and BS-19 in sectors I-8 and D-12 in pursuance of an earlier dubious balloting of plots held in July 2012.
The move caught the attention of the CDA employees union, which on January 10 organised a protest outside CDA offices and demanded immediate cancellation of the offer letters.
Union representatives were of the view that plots were given in violation of court orders, staying the process and termed the move “tantamount to usurping the rights of CDA employees”.
The same day, CDA Chairman Tahir Shahbaz cancelled the offer letters issued to the officials, including officers working on deputation.
The chairman had also clarified that the offer letters issued on January 9 have no legal standing, as they were issued without his approval.
Shahbaz ordered setting up of an inquiry committee with Niaz its chairman and estate member Shaista Sohail as its member.
As many as 18 of the 109 officers who were issued offer letters are working on deputation and a number of them were not eligible for residential plot under CDA rules.
In 2005, the Supreme Court had defined the criteria for allotment of plots to officers on deputation in the CDA while disposing of a petition on the issue.
An officer would need to have 10 years of service in other government departments and one-year service in the CDA to be eligible for a residential plot.
Though most of the officers and officials who were issued offer letters qualify for a residential plot, they are only the handpicked few, as many other eligible officials are still waiting for their turn.
In addition, on December 14, 2012, Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf issued instructions that officers working on deputation in the civic agency would no longer be allotted residential plots.
However, the ban only applied to officers who had joined the authority after the directions were issued.
Both Niaz and Sohail were unavailable for comment, while the CDA spokesperson expressed ignorance about the development.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2013.