Citizens to move court against Rs13 billion housing society mega scam

ISLAMABAD: The victims of Green Nest and Green Inspire housing projects in Ghauri Town have decided to move court against the Rs13 billion housing scam.

The residents have geared up to submit a writ petition against the housing society, naming the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Islamabad Police as respondents.

They have also decided to compile all evidence against the housing society and submit a ‘white paper’ to the anti-graft watchdog. A writ petition will be filed against Ghauri Town owners Chaudhry Usman Raja, Ali Akbar and cartographer Chaudhry Abdur Rehman for the mega-scam.

The victims have also hired the legal services of several reputed lawyers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. It has allegedly that plots from 500 victims were bought at cheaper rates and sold at higher prices in the housing societies.

The suspects had allegedly looted billions from people by selling plots in fake or illegal housing projects. Suspect Ali Akbar along with his sons is accused of tempering with official property documents and gathering data.

Authorities have started tightening their grip against the suspects over the mega-scam. Police had summoned owner Chaudhry Usman with regards to a probe but he failed to appear. Sources said that Chaudhry Usman was attempting to evade arrest by moving abroad to Dubai or Sharjah. The move to take action has riffled the land mafia in adjoning areas of Ghauri Town.

Earlier in June, the Punjab Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has started probing property dealers involved in selling bogus plots in Ghauri Town. ACU said that Usman was a low-grade employee but became a billionaire in a short period. Therefore, the unit has decided to conduct an inquiry into the matter

The Green Nest and Green Inspire housing projects started selling files without obtaining a non-objection certificate (NOC) from the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The interior ministry had also sought a report against the fraudulent property dealers and are expected to soon refer the case to the FIA and NAB.