By Syed Danish Husain (nation.com.pk)
In a strange ‘coincidence’, the big guns of Pakistan’s diaspora comprising the mighty lot of journalists, politicians, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, ruling elites and their near and dear ones have interestingly grabbed lucrative plots located at the prime locations during the ‘fixed’ balloting of a housing project called Park Enclave.
It happened just recently when, to the pleasant surprise of the influential elite, it so transpired that the ‘lucky winners’ and beneficiaries of the CDA’s so-called balloting for Pak Enclave, its much hyped housing society, happened to be all the powerful individuals.
On the other hand, uninfluential common and overseas Pakistanis, who contributed billions of rupees to the national exchequer, thanks to their hard earned money, were allotted plots in ‘slum like’ areas mostly located along a 60-foot wide seasonal nullah runs through the middle of the proposed locality, the Park Enclave.
This ‘blessed’ lot of journalists, parliamentarians, CDA high-ups and ruling elite has further been divided into two categories. The ‘most influential’ individuals have been given corner plots at the most prime locations, while the second group comprising MPs and CDA officials have been allotted plots adjacent to influential ones.
The prominent among the ‘blessed’ lot include journalist Ansar Ahmed Abbasi (plot no. 37), journalist Rauf Klasra (plot no. 164), Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza (plot no. 219), Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi (plot no. 152), Chairman Public Accounts Committee MNA Nadeem Afzal Gondal (plot no.83), Deputy Chairman Senate Sabir Ali Baloch (plot no. 227), Mehwish Sher Afghan (plot no.67), Sabia Ellahi (Wife of former Chairman CDA Imtiaz Inayat Elahi) (plot no.139), Salman Mahbub Ilahi (a relative of former Chairman CDA) (plot no.209) etc.
The aforementioned plots are lucrative corner plots and fall in the area considered the best one, according to real estate experts of the federal capital. Now if it was a co-incidence or a designed move that these abovementioned influential people were declared the owner of corner plots at prime locations through balloting.
The second biggest beneficiaries of this fixed balloting are the members of the national assembly and members of the provincial assemblies, who though were not allotted the corner plots but managed to get themselves allotted the plots at locations facing parks, open spaces and wide access roads upto 100 feet.
These include MNA Qamar Zaman Kaira (plot no. 200), MNA Sajid Hussain Toori (plot no. 188), MNA Nauman Islam Sheikh (plot no.189), Senator Islamud Din Sheikh (plot no.246), MNA Syed Nasir Ali Shah (plot no.216), MNA Syed Sumsam Ali Bokhari (238), MNA Nawab Ali Wasan (plot no.63), Sardar Talib Nakai (plot no.40), Senator Wasim Sajjad (plot no. 377), Mir Amer Ali Khan Magsi (plot no.196), MNA Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani (plot no.256), Shujaul Mulk Khan (plot no 283), Imtiaz Safdar Warraich (plot no. 311), MNA Arbab Alamgir Khan (plot no. 335), Senator Nawabzada Akbar Magsi (plot no. 392), MPA Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto (plot no.410), etc.
The balloting of some 613 plots at Park Enclave was held on July 17 last. The project was launch back in year 2011. The price of plot in the society is Rs 12 million.
Similarly, an influential real estate dealer of the federal capital somehow managed to get all of his three plots (134, 351 and 479) at prime locations that, according to informed sources, is very less likely through random number run while balloting in computer programme.
Then, there are number of plots at prime locations like plots 117-131 and few other corner plots which have deliberately been left un-allotted by taken them out from balloting. “This has deprived genuine allottees of their right to get their plots at the prime locations, while such ‘co-incidences’ further support our argument of fixed balloting,” said an allottee.
Besides that there were a number of parliamentarians and CDA officials have purchased plots in the scheme on the names of their kith and kin. Interestingly, once again these plots are located at the prime locations.
“The balloting result shows that not even a single parliamentarian or journalist was allotted plot in depression area, that is situated approximately 25 feet lower in height than the usual ground area of the locality,” informed a concerned official.
Only common and overseas Pakistanis were announced the plot holders along the nullah and depression area, the official maintained.
“Whether it is the good fortune of prominent journalists, parliamentarians and CDA’s high-ups, or bad luck of uninfluential common and overseas Pakistanis, but we are simply regretting our decision of investment out of hard-earned money back in country,” said an overseas Pakistani Dr Jamal.
Chairman CDA Engineer Farkhand Iqbal was tried to contact for his views over this “co-incidence” but he was not available. A text message was also sent to him but he did not return the call till the filing of this report.
Newly appointed spokesperson of the Authority, Masoodur Rehman, when contacted, said, “I have recently taken over the charge of Director Public Relations and is not aware about the exact details.” However, he said that he would respond to the queries today (Thursday) after discussing with the concerned quarters.