Authorities have uncovered what is being described as one of the largest housing fraud cases in Pakistan’s history involving the Islamabad Cooperative Housing Society, with investigators alleging that tens of thousands of plot files were issued illegally despite the society not having enough land to support those allotments.
According to officials investigating the case, the society’s approved layout plan and available land bank allowed for the issuance of only around 6,000 plot files. However, former office-bearers and alleged facilitators are accused of issuing nearly 42,000 files, creating a massive shortfall between the land available and the number of plots allotted.
Investigators said around 36,000 files have so far been identified as illegal, excessive, or unsupported by available land. The findings have raised serious concerns over alleged fraud, administrative mismanagement, and abuse of authority over several years.
Officials also found that payment and allotment records for thousands of files are either missing or unavailable. According to the investigation, many citizens were allegedly sold plot files for land that did not exist, lacked legal approval, or was never properly documented.
Authorities believe the wide gap between the society’s land bank and the number of issued files points to the systematic sale of fake, duplicate, and excessive plot files to collect billions of rupees from the public.
So far, investigators have identified financial irregularities exceeding Rs. 16 billion, although officials say the amount may rise further as more records and transactions are examined.
NAB has confirmed the arrest of seven suspects linked to the society’s former management committee and a land dealing company. Those taken into custody include former Secretary General Mehdi Khan Shakir, former Treasurer Malik Muhammad Nawaz, former Executive Member Muhammad Arshad, and four individuals associated with Land Stock Dealing Point Company, namely Munir Akhtar, Ali Mahmood, Yameen Malik, and Ghulam Jailani.
An accountability court in Islamabad has granted NAB a seven-day physical remand of the accused to allow investigators to recover documentary evidence, trace financial transactions, and identify other alleged facilitators involved in the case.
Officials familiar with the probe said the investigation is expected to widen further as teams continue examining the role of other individuals linked to the society’s administration, land management, and financial affairs. More arrests are likely as the inquiry progresses.
