Daily Times

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau has initiated a probe into the changed status of an amenity plot to commercial level in Clifton, officials of NAB have disclosed.

According to the deputy director NAB Karachi ,Ashgar Khan has been appointed as the investigation officer of case no-221178-khi/W-I/Co-B/NAB/Karachi/2015/3796.

The plot 12/7, which was known as Sea-Shell stalls and measured 6632.68 square yards with an estimated value of Rs ten billion, is situated between Bagh-Ibne-Qasim and Sea View in block 3, Clifton.

The commercial status of the plot had been approved by former city Nazim Mustafa Kamal on March 19, 2007.

After removing small hawkers from Jahangir Kothari Parade land for revamping Bagh-Ibne-Qasim, The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation on the request of Karachi Development Authority had earmarked the said plot and bifurcated it into 198 small shops measuring 11.11 square yards each to compensate the relocated hawkers.

This was the part plan of plot PB-5/233 on December 20, 1982. It had been decided in principle, to utilize plots 2/7A and 2/7D for 198 small shops.

Over the period of time no shops were created on the land and it remained barren.

Later under the land utilization policy 2003, City Council Karachi approved and considered withdrawal of the part plan and in first stage, Dawood Jan Muhammad of DJ Builders and Developers, published advertisements for in the news papers as the new owners of the property and for No objection .

On February 21, 2007, DJ Builders and Developers published public notices in two dailies, inviting general public’s objections on the withdrawal of part plan for creating small shops and conversion status of plot into commercial.

In the due course of time, DJ Builders had acquired the possession of land for building a high rise.

Later, DJ Builders applied in the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) for approval of high rise building plan on the plot but SBCA after deliberation into the legality of the matter besides pressure of a political party for not approving plan of building decided not to accept their request.

On realizing that this issue would not be resolved by them , DJ Builders sold the plot to Bahria Town Group.

The Bahria Town in he shortest period of time, built a colony for the labors working on icon towers and mixing plant on the plot.

NAB has started investigation into the matter on such reports. The agency is concentrating on points such how the amenity plot has been converted into commercial, how 198 small shop plots have been amalgamated illegally, why allotment and high rise building has been allowed . The loss of Rs 2 billion to KDA exchequer; and also how the officers in question have misused their respective powers.

In additional NAB would also probe into the less prescribed payment of land cost, occupancy value, late surcharge, non utilisation fee, ownership transfer fee, withdrawal of layout plan fee, ground rent, renewal fee, change of land use fee and amalgamation fee.

This has been revealed that only three fee-amalgamation, change of land and scrutiny fee has been charged by SBCA.

NAB after this development has also included the SBCA officials in the inquiry to ascertain the involvement in this matter, Including Manzoor Ahmed Kaka, former Director General SBCA.

Qamar Qureshi, President Economic Forum Pakistan was of the view commenting on the matter that on this stage, selling out the plot to Bahria Town Group seems a foul play and the whole investigation might be a step forward to give clean chit to persons and officials of civic bodies, involved in this illegal operation.