Forged signatures: Probe report submitted

LAHORE:Metropolitan Corporation Lahore held an inquiry against Zonal Officer Allama Iqbal Town and her junior staff for forging the signature of former DC Lahore to approve the map of a commercial building.

A preliminary inquiry report was submitted to Secretary LG&CD Punjab Shakeel Ahmed Mian seeking a formal inquiry under the PEDA Act against several senior officials of MCL as well as the ZO (Planning) Allama Iqbal Zone and her junior staff for approving a commercial map in the controlled area of LDA with the forged signatures of the former DC Lahore Rafia Haider. The preliminary inquiry was conducted by Deputy CO Headquarters of MCL Muhammad Jamil who identified the forged signatures of ex-DC.

He reported the matter to the Chief Officer MCL Shahid Abbas Kathia, who, after approval by the Administrator, directed him to visit the site as well. The report said that ZO (P) Allama Iqbal Zone sent a building map to ex-DC for approval, who instructed her Personal Staff Officer Waqas Asghar to request a building control report from the LDA, on which the LDA wrote a letter stating that the land situated in their controlled area.

However, after the transfer of DC Rafia Haider, the map was approved and the govt treasury was heavily damaged. The report stated that ZO (Planning) Amna Javed got the file approved by the MO(Planning) and Chief Officer MCL and the map was issued with the bogus signatures of Rafia Haider. Local Government Inspection and Monitoring Team DG Iqbal Farid said he will take strict action against all those involved in causing loss to the national exchequer.