Rs20 billion corruption alleged in Jinnah Garden as 44 FIA inquiries remain pending for years

Alleged corruption worth more than Rs20 billion in Jinnah Garden, 44 pending FIA inquiries and claims that a single plot was sold

Islamabad: Alleged corruption worth more than Rs20 billion in Jinnah Garden, 44 pending FIA inquiries and claims that a single plot was sold to five different people have raised serious questions about the role of housing society managements and government regulators in Islamabad.

Residents and affected allottees from several housing societies have accused property dealers, developers and some officials of working together to sell public amenity land, issue questionable plot files and keep investigations pending for years. They demanded an independent investigation, recovery of public money and action against those found responsible.

The allegations were made at a press conference at the National Press Club, where representatives of Jinnah Garden, Swan Garden, Gulberg Greens, Capital Enclave, Kashmir Housing Society, The Life Residencia and other schemes spoke about what they described as widespread corruption and failures by the Capital Development Authority and the Cooperative Department.

A representative Mr Majid of Jinnah Garden Federal Employees Cooperative Housing Society alleged that financial irregularities and embezzlement in the society had crossed Rs20 billion. He said 44 inquiries involving the society were pending with the FIA’s CCC Wing, with some cases reportedly remaining unresolved for eight to ten years. He also claimed that two inquiries were pending with the Cooperative Department.

The speaker said an inquiry initiated by advocate Kashif Ahmed Khan and completed by the Assistant Commissioner Sadar had found 12 to 14 allegations against the society’s management to be proved. He said the findings should have led to action by the National Accountability Bureau and the FIA, but the same management continued to hold office.

He further alleged that the inquiry had remained pending for more than six months, despite rules requiring such matters to be concluded within 15 days. The claims were made by the society’s representative at the press conference

The representative also questioned the composition of the society’s 13 member management body, alleging that 11 members were property dealers or linked to property businesses. He claimed that people with business interests were influencing the society’s management and election process.

The most alarming allegation concerned thousands of people who have been waiting for plots for two decades. The speaker said more than 7,000 Jinnah Garden allottees had still not received plots despite paying money and waiting for around 20 years.

He alleged that some plots had been sold to as many as five different people, leaving several buyers claiming ownership of the same piece of land. He also said the current management had promised to adjust the affected allottees within three years but had failed to provide a plot to even one person during that period. He claimed that only a small number of people had since been accommodated.

The speaker said overseas Pakistanis had also lost their savings after sending money home in the hope of owning a house. He warned that such cases were damaging confidence in investment in Pakistan.

Another Female representative Naila Jaben said She had filed a complaint with NAB and that an FIA case involving Rs62 crore was also underway. SHe alleged that NAB had sent a letter to the society after receiving his complaint, but no meaningful progress or hearing had followed.

The press conference also raised questions about alleged corruption in The Life Residencia, a private housing scheme. Its representative, Syed Zafarullah Badshah, claimed that around 2,000 affected people had submitted applications to NAB and alleged that the amount involved in the case exceeded Rs5 billion.

He expressed concern over reports circulating among residents that NAB and the society’s management might have reached a plea bargain. He said this was only information he had heard and demanded that the affected people be informed in writing if any such agreement had been reached. He argued that residents who had invested their money must be taken into confidence before any settlement or refund arrangement.

The representative also accused private developers of selling files and flats in schemes whose legal status and land ownership remained unclear. He questioned why authorities allowed advertising and selling to continue if the schemes did not have the required approvals. He demanded refunds for affected buyers and action against those responsible.

The press conference also highlighted allegations involving Soan Gardens, where residents claimed that 585 kanals had been developed and sold without an NOC. A speaker alleged that people were being asked for Rs10 lakh to Rs15 lakh in extortion payments when they tried to build houses on the land. She also claimed that complaints had been filed with NAB and other agencies but had not brought relief.

Naila Jabeen, a resident of Swan Garden, accused the CDA and the Cooperative Department of failing to stop the alleged sale and occupation of land reserved for schools, parks, hospitals, mosques, graveyards and other public facilities.

She said the authorities had issued 770 notices to residents of Swan Garden over houses built on land described as reserved for public facilities. She questioned why ordinary families who had bought homes with their life savings were facing demolition notices while those allegedly responsible for selling or misusing the land had not been held accountable.

She also alleged that the CDA was planning to impose penalties totalling Rs14 billion on residents. She demanded that action be taken against those who approved or sold land meant for public use instead of placing the burden on ordinary home owners.

Jabeen further alleged that residential plots in different societies had been changed into commercial plots through bribes. She claimed that areas reserved for commercial use had increased from around five percent to between 15 and 20 percent in some societies, putting extra pressure on roads, water supplies and other services.

She also questioned the Cooperative Department’s monthly audits of housing societies, asking how alleged illegal sales and financial irregularities could continue without being detected. She claimed that fake voter lists, questionable plot allotments and high election fees were being used to keep ordinary members away from society elections.

According to her, election fees had reached Rs100,000 in Jinnah Garden and Rs70,000 in Soan Garden. She questioned the legal basis for these charges and said the costs should have been paid from society funds instead of being collected from ordinary members.

The speakers also alleged that inquiries were being buried and that some people were using influence to avoid accountability. They called for an independent investigation into the role of society officials, property dealers, developers and government officers. They also demanded that the Cooperative Societies Act of 1925 be enforced and updated to prevent people with business interests from controlling housing society managements.

The speakers raised concerns about the treatment of complaints by NAB, the FIA and other departments. They alleged that ordinary citizens faced long delays, while influential people could use money and connections to avoid action. One representative said around 425 applications had reportedly been sent to the prime minister but had not resulted in effective action. He also referred to a proposed committee for overseas Pakistanis, saying there had been little progress.

The affected residents demanded that all housing societies undergo transparent forensic audits covering land ownership, plot allotments, financial records, commercial changes and management decisions. They called for allottees to receive verifiable possession of their plots within three months or be paid compensation at current market rates where plots could not be provided.

They also demanded that the CDA restore land reserved for schools, mosques, parks and other facilities, take action against illegal commercial buildings and ensure that ordinary residents have a proper role in society elections and management.

The press conference further highlighted the falling underground water level. Jabeen claimed that in Soan Garden’s H Block, 11 tube wells had been installed within a limited area of 1,320 feet, including four belonging to PWD. She said the wells were extracting around 5,000 gallons of water per hour and operating for 12 to 24 hours.

She said water that had previously been available at a depth of around 50 feet was now being found at about 300 feet. She demanded a scientific survey, restrictions on commercial water boring and tankers, and the construction of recharge wells to save rainwater.

The speakers said they were not asking for special treatment but wanted the law to apply equally to ordinary residents, society managements, developers and officials. They warned that without independent investigations and timely action, thousands of families could continue to lose their savings while public land and basic facilities remained under threat.