ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a reference in the accountability court against nine individuals,includingformer high-ranking officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and family members of the Pir of Golra Sharif, over their alleged involvement in a decades-long land fraud.

The fraud pertains to illegal allotments and sales of prime government land in Islamabad`s Sector E-11, worth around Rs29.412 billion.

The reference, filed under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999, states that the CDA allotted land measuring 373 Kanal, 18 Marla to Pir Shah Abdul Haq on Feb 7, 1990, in Sector E-11, Islamabad, in lieu of land measuring 314 Kanal acquired for the development of Sectors F-11, F-12 and E-12.

It said that the family members of the custodian of the Golra shrine filed a petition before the Lahore High Court (LHC), claiming that around 72 Kanals of this land was unusable, because it contained a graveyard, roads and built-up areas.

The LHC had constituted a twomember commission, which confirmed the claim and subsequently, the CDAallotted them an alternative piece of land.

However, in 2002, the family sold over 21 Kanals of the 72 Kanals of `unusable` land to the National Police Foundation (NPF).

According to the NAB investigation report, former CDA director land Shaista Sohail allegedly illegally transferred the land to NPF in 2002.

Her successor, Khalid Mehmood Mirza, also allegedly orchestrated fraudulent land allotments bypassing legal protocols.

NAB also accuses former CDA assistant director Raja Zahid Hussain and patwari Amjad Aziz of allegedly fabricating possession reports and recommendations to facilitate illegal exchanges. They also allegedly prepared bogus possession reports and revenue records to legitimise illegal transfers.

Members of the Pir of Golra`s family allegedly colluded with CDA officials to retain illegal possession of 27-Kanal 11-Marla land in E-11, in addition to earlier disputed allotments.

The reference said that the CDA officials ignored the fact that the land sold to the NPF in 2002 had already been monetised. They then allotted excess land to the family as `compensation`, effectively double-dipping into state resources.The illegal retention of 27-Kanal 11-Marla land by the family post-2002 sales alone amount to billions of rupees in lost state revenue.

The accused face charges under Sections 9(a)(iii), (iv), and (vii) of the NAO, 1999, covering corruption, misuse of authority, and fraudulent land dealings.

Syed Ghulam Hassam-ud-Din and three female beneficiaries submitted a joint plea bargain application under Section 25(b) of the NAO, signaling their admission of guilt, the reference said.

NAB said it is currently investigating the roles of private female beneficiaries and claimants Waqar Ahmad Paracha and Salman Ali, reserving the right to expand the case, it added.

NAB`s 1,100-page reference includes 29 witnesses including CDA officials, Survey of Pakistan staff, and revenue officers and annexed documentary proof such as land records, court orders, transferletters, and possession reports.

The reference alsoincludedforensic survey report conducted by Survey of Pakistan in 2024 confirming the illegal occupation ofthe land by the accused.

IHC hearing Meanwhile, a division bench of theIslamabad High Court (IHC), comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, has suspended the order placing names of the members of the Pir family on the Exit Control List (ECL).

During proceedings, the NAB prosecutor informed the court that a reference has been filed in the accountability court against the accused following an investigation into the E-11 land scandal.

However, the bench expressed concerns over the process and criticised NAB`s conduct in the matter.

Justice Kayani criticised NAB`s approach, stating, `You take civil matters and turn them into criminal ones.

`NAB has been oppressing people in this way, and now their authority has been eroded after two legislative amendments`.

He also questioned NAB`s lack of action against CDA officials, asking, were any CDA people arrested before this reference? The prosecutor responded in the negative, prompting Justice Kayani to question the legitimacy of the evidence collected.

The IHC fixed April 28 for the next hearing of the main case and directed both parties to present final arguments and a progress report.