NPF land scam case: Top bureaucrats summoned for secret deal with ex-MNA
Former DG Zafar Iqbal Qureshi to appear before the bench to assist court.
“It seems every officer obtained extra plots in a housing project for low-ranking police officials to mint money,” observed Justice Gulzar Ahmed. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday summoned top bureaucrats for reaching an out-of-court settlement with a former PML-N legislator, who had cheated the National Police Foundation (NPF) of Rs6 billion in a land scam even as the suo motu case was up for hearing.
Former interior secretary Khawaja Siddiq Akbar, Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bani Amin and former NPF chief Zahid Mehmood will have to explain why they settled on a compromise with former MNA Anjum Aqeel, who had desisted from handing over possession of 45 kanals, even though he had received full payment for all the land sold to the foundation.
The SC also issued notices to influential persons including a former premier and police officers for obtaining more than one plot in NPF.
Taking note of irregularities in the affairs of NPF, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry directed former director general Zafar Iqbal Qureshi to appear before the bench on June 11 to assist the court, during the hearing of a suo motu case. Qureshi had investigated the land scam and recommended criminal action against him and former managing directors of NPF.
A case taken up by the SC to investigate a land scam took a new turn when the court was informed that senior officers had manoeuvred to obtain additional plots in a housing scheme initiated primarily for low-ranking police officials.
The court ordered the foundation’s management to present a complete list of persons who violated NPF’s rules.
Out of 1,253 plots developed in Sector E-11 only 67 plots were allotted to police constables, while the rest were given to senior officers, NPF secretary housing informed the police. Responding to a question, the secretary said in phases O to 9, there were 2,600 plots, out of which 80 plots were allotted to the widows of deceased police officials.
According to information shared with the apex court, former premier Shaukat Aziz got three plots, IGP Amin got two plots, former IGP Afzal Ali Shigri got five plots in two schemes, former IGP Muhammad Nawaz Malik got four plots, DIG Sultan Azam Taimuri got three plots, DIG Laiq Ahmed managed to obtain five plots, NPF ex-director Abdul Hannan got seven plots, while NPF ex-director Khuda Buksh got 12 plots. Muhammad Khan, an office assistant in NPF got six plots. Others who got more than one plot include a lieutenant colonel and a district and sessions judge.
“Senior police officers were bent upon grabbing a maximum number of plots whereas the rule specifies one plot for every member,” observed the CJ.
“It seems every officer obtained extra plots in a housing project for low-ranking police officials to mint money,” observed Justice Gulzar Ahmed and warned senior officers they might have to return the additional plots.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2013.
The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday summoned top bureaucrats for reaching an out-of-court settlement with a former PML-N legislator, who had cheated the National Police Foundation (NPF) of Rs6 billion in a land scam even as the suo motu case was up for hearing.
Former interior secretary Khawaja Siddiq Akbar, Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bani Amin and former NPF chief Zahid Mehmood will have to explain why they settled on a compromise with former MNA Anjum Aqeel, who had desisted from handing over possession of 45 kanals, even though he had received full payment for all the land sold to the foundation.
The SC also issued notices to influential persons including a former premier and police officers for obtaining more than one plot in NPF.
Taking note of irregularities in the affairs of NPF, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry directed former director general Zafar Iqbal Qureshi to appear before the bench on June 11 to assist the court, during the hearing of a suo motu case. Qureshi had investigated the land scam and recommended criminal action against him and former managing directors of NPF.
A case taken up by the SC to investigate a land scam took a new turn when the court was informed that senior officers had manoeuvred to obtain additional plots in a housing scheme initiated primarily for low-ranking police officials.
The court ordered the foundation’s management to present a complete list of persons who violated NPF’s rules.
Out of 1,253 plots developed in Sector E-11 only 67 plots were allotted to police constables, while the rest were given to senior officers, NPF secretary housing informed the police. Responding to a question, the secretary said in phases O to 9, there were 2,600 plots, out of which 80 plots were allotted to the widows of deceased police officials.
According to information shared with the apex court, former premier Shaukat Aziz got three plots, IGP Amin got two plots, former IGP Afzal Ali Shigri got five plots in two schemes, former IGP Muhammad Nawaz Malik got four plots, DIG Sultan Azam Taimuri got three plots, DIG Laiq Ahmed managed to obtain five plots, NPF ex-director Abdul Hannan got seven plots, while NPF ex-director Khuda Buksh got 12 plots. Muhammad Khan, an office assistant in NPF got six plots. Others who got more than one plot include a lieutenant colonel and a district and sessions judge.
“Senior police officers were bent upon grabbing a maximum number of plots whereas the rule specifies one plot for every member,” observed the CJ.
“It seems every officer obtained extra plots in a housing project for low-ranking police officials to mint money,” observed Justice Gulzar Ahmed and warned senior officers they might have to return the additional plots.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2013.