ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested two Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials over alleged irregularities in the transfer of a disputed farmhouse plot. The arrests followed an investigation into the processing of a property transfer despite ongoing litigation. Consequently, the FIA launched legal action against the accused officials.
The FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle arrested Deputy Director Estate Management Sajjadullah and Dealing Assistant Yasir Arafat. Investigators alleged both officials unlawfully issued No Demarcation Certificates (NDCs) for the farmhouse plot. However, the property had remained under litigation since 2022.
Authorities registered the case under Sections 420, 468, 471, and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code. They also invoked Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. Therefore, investigators accused the officials of abusing their authority during the transfer process.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the accused deliberately concealed the property’s disputed legal status. Investigators claimed they processed the transfer with mala fide intent. As a result, they allegedly ignored key legal restrictions affecting the land.
The FIR stated that Yasir Arafat submitted a proposal claiming the plot faced no restrictions. He also declared that no court case or National Accountability Bureau inquiry existed. Subsequently, Deputy Director Sajjadullah approved the NDC without examining the relevant property file.
The property transfer was later completed in favor of Irum Kousar, the wife of complainant Raja Sajjad Rabbani. Rabbani, a Norwegian national, later discovered the concealed litigation. Consequently, he lost the legal right to transfer or sell the farmhouse plot. The FIA believes the alleged concealment caused financial and legal complications for the complainant.
Meanwhile, investigators continue examining the case to determine whether additional officials were involved in the disputed property transfer. Further legal proceedings are expected as the investigation progresses.
