Special Committee of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) expressed its utter displeasure over allotment of plots in posh areas of the capital city by provoking discretionary powers of the prime minister office in the past.
Reviewing the audit accounts of Cabinet Division for 1997-98, PAC was informed that in 1996, the then prime minister awarded a piece of land measuring 1200 sq yard to ex-army chief General Abdul Waheed Kakar (Retd). Audit official pointed out that violation of allotment policy resulted in loss of Rs 6.6 million. The case was pending before Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Law and Justice since 1997-98.
Chairman Committee, Riaz Ahmed Pirzada in his observation said that late Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif opened the undue allotment of plots to MNAs and MPs to win their loyalties during their previous tenures.
In another identical case, Ex-Chairman Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation, Lieutenant General Abdul Qayyum (Retd) managed to change his low cost plot with land in another attractive sector in 1996. The audit observed that the plot was irregularly changed, which was available for allotment through open auction, in clear violation of land disposal regulation 1993. At the time, Abdul Qayyum was military secretary to the then prime minister. Irregular transfer of plot caused a loss of Rs 4.3 million to the authority.
In another case, four plots of 600 sq yard and 500 sq yards were allotted in violation of land disposal regulations to persons not entitled under any category in 1995. Allotment was required to be made through open auction at least at the rate of Rs 8,000 per square year as determined by the CDA itself instead of Rs 500 per sq yard. Violation of allotment policy resulted in loss of Rs 150 million.
The cases were under investigation by FIA. The persons who were allotted plots were Justice Sheikh Riaz (Retd), Nawaz Naseem, Islam Sayed and Aqeel Bin Sharif. Secretary Cabinet, Nargis Sheti contended that all this favour was given by the then prime minister by provoking her/his discretionary power to allot plots to anybody on concessional rates.
Under land disposal regulations 1993, Chairman CDA Imtiaz Elhai admitted that the prime minister is only authorised to allot plots from the deserving list of government officers. Other persons come under general rules. However, setting aside the objections raised by the auditor general office, special committee recommended the settlement of all the audit paras under protest.