Plots allotted during Zia's regime: PAC body seeks report from Cabinet Division

The implementation body of the Public Accounts Committee on Friday took up the matter of allotment of six abandoned plots in the Capital by former president General Ziaul Haq and directed the Cabinet Division to submit a detailed report in this regard.
The committee ordered an inquiry into allotment of six plots during General Ziaul Haq's tenure to six military officers in Islamabad, including the Air Marshal and Air Vice Marshal in 1982.
Under the promulgation of Abandoned Properties Act 1975, no abandoned property could be sold, allotted or disposed of to other persons. However, Capital Development Authority (CDA) allotted six abandoned plots in Islamabad to certain individuals in 1981-82 and it also did not seek the advice of Abandoned Properties Office (APO). The implementation committee directed the CDA to re-examine the issue and submit a comprehensive report to the body mentioning name of altottees, allotment price, market value, comprehensive price paid by CDA, and existing position at site.
It has been learnt that prior to the promulgation of CDA Land Disposal Regulation 1993, the authority had discretionary powers to allot plots in Islamabad. The audit report points out that it would be unfair to say that no market price was prevailing at the time of allotment of the plots.
Currently, CDA is examining the documents of the relevant sectors where these allotments were made. Ministry of Law and Justice was also approached to get the latter's advice on the irregularity. The Ministry has said that the procedure adopted for the said allotments was neither lawful nor transparent and the plots were allotted without consulting the APO. As the allotments were invalid, the price of these plots may be revised.
It further said that the allotments were not in accordance with law, therefore, subsequent transfer is also invalid. The Ministry of Law has recommended that the competent authority may cancel the allotments or recover the balance price at the subsisting market rate.