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Monday December 02, 2024

Fraudulent gang selling properties on fake documents busted

By Shakeel Anjum
April 24, 2024
An exterior shot of the FIA headquarters. — Facebook/File
An exterior shot of the FIA headquarters. — Facebook/File

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), breaking a racket comprising of private property dealers and officials of Capital Development Authority (CDA), lodged first information report (FIR) after thorough enquiry into a complaint lodged by a private citizen, FIA sources said Tuesday.

The FIA officials during the investigation found CDA officials involved in multi-million rupee business on fake documents, the FIA maintained. In a revelation, an organized fraud case has emerged involving high-ranking officials of the CDA, accused of swindling a significant sum of money from a complainant under the guise of selling a property.

Asmat Ullah Khan, the aggrieved party, lodged a complaint with the anti-corruption circle of FIA, that uncovered a web of deceit allegedly orchestrated by Kaswer Abbas Shah, Dealing Assistant at CDA, Muhammad Ashraf Chandio, Sub Assistant also from CDA, and Muhammad Idrees Mughal, a private individual and other property dealing people.

According to the investigation, the trio, in collusion with each other, purportedly deceived Asmat Ullah Khan into transferring funds for the purchase of a property located in F-7/3 Islamabad, spanning 1244 square yards.

The transaction was facilitated through a forged Non-Development Certificate (NDC), with Muhammad Ashraf Chandio assuming the false identity of Deputy Director CDA, the sources engaged in the investigation, said.

The accused individuals, identified as Kaswer Abbas Shah, Muhammad Ashraf Chandio, and Muhammad Idrees Mughal, are facing charges under sections 109, 419, 420, 468, and 471 of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

While the investigation is ongoing, authorities have assured that anyone else implicated in the scheme will be brought to justice.

This alarming revelation has sent shockwaves through the community, raising concerns about the integrity of property transactions and the accountability of public officials.

The undersigned authorities have pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure that justice is served and to prevent such fraudulent activities in the future.