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ISLAMABAD, August 24: Land scams that are proliferating
across the country, specially in the name of our
Armed Forces, have come into sharp focus, sadly
because of murder of two guards of a high profile
housing society in the federal capital.
First it was the National Assembly last night and
next morning the Senate, where members from both
sides of the isle voiced their outrage over the
blatant manner in which this housing society used
the name of Pakistan Navy to generate massive public
interest and money in its highly publicized schemes.
Lawmakers of the area said the developer purchased
the land from poor villagers around Islamabad cheaply
and sold plots at hugely inflated price. The violence
reported in the press was attributed to allegation
by some of these sellers that they have been cheated.
In the end two innocent guards were caught in the
fray and killed.
The developer has shown ingenuity and innovation
both in designs and marketing. These have made his
various offerings one of the most attractive in
the country, after the defence housing schemes.
Few, perhaps, would grudge that, had it all been
a fair and clean affair. But many lawmakers pointed
accusing fingers at top political, civil and military
figures whose patronage has gone along with it.
Former law minister Sen. Dr. Khalid Ranjha pointed
out that it was a criminal offence to use for any
private commercial venture, the name of an official
organization, more so an arm of the military. “Bahria
Town“ was originally purported to be a project of
the Pakistan Navy. But a former navy chief allegedly
allowed the present developer for unknown reasons
and consideration.
On a number of occasions the developer has been
running into trouble with the top government functionaries,
including the NAB. He was even jailed. But in the
end he escaped unscathed and expanded his business
to incredible proportions. In private sector, he
is, perhaps, the top-most real estate tycoon in
the country.
The lawmakers particularly took note of the latest
offer in what was called Bahria Town-Phase 9. The
publicity preceding the offering had set about a
week for the people to file prescribed forms. The
forms were available in some selected banks. But
on the first day it was announced that within first
six hours, 40,000 forms were distributed by banks
to the applicants exhausting all supplies. Many
bank branches witnessed virtual riots and damage
to buildings caused by dejected prospective buyers
who were unable to get any form.
To top it all, the developer announced that all
the 40,000 applicants would be given plots if they
deposited the down payment within the due date.
Apparently, it was inconceivable that the developer
actually owned 40,000 plots. The two announcements
sent the market in a tail spin. The frenzy that
ensued led to black market sale and resale of forms
at exorbitant prices ranging from Rs15,000 to Rs60,000.
The lawmakers were intrigued by the way the forms
were distributed. Influential people were given
scores of these forms before sending them to the
banks. This writer overheard two people in an escalator
talking about the forms two days after the event.
“Sir, you had promised to get me some forms,” one
gentleman said. “Don’t you worry. An FIA director
has been given 20 and has promised to share five
with me.”
Many lawmakers were perturbed that the real estate
craze has overtaken the society and widened the
gap between the haves and the have-nots to a vulgar
level. You go to any office – private, public, civil,
military - the most favorite topic is the housing
schemes.
The prices in all major cities, including Islamabad,
Lahore and Karachi have skyrocketed. While the lucky
ones with money and connections have made windfall
profits in buying and selling, the less fortunate
have nothing but to curse their luck. For most of
the middle and lower class strata of the society,
the price of land to build houses has gone out of
their reach.
A reasonably employed and paid person cannot even
think of buying a servant quarter sized plot of
land in Islamabad for his entire lifelong savings.
Building a house has become a fantasy. In other
major cities, things are no different.
The most coveted societies, of course, are the defence
housing societies in major cities. The President
last week felt peeved by the fact that “pseudo intellectuals”
feel jealous about these societies. According to
him these are best developed and managed. If some
army officer sells a plot for hundred times the
cost at which he was allotted, so argued the President,
why should people grudge or feel jealous about it.
The President says only the retired military officers
are looking after these societies which also provide
employment and generate development activity. He
conveniently ignores the fact of the involvement
of officer corps in allotment, sale and resale of
plots. Untold stories about higher echelons overseeing
these schemes have tainted the image of the institution.
Moreover the defence housing societies have become
an obscene feature of our elite culture that is
far removed from the rest of the populace. It generates,
not just the” jealousy” which the President has
referred to, but irrepressible rage and revulsion
among the less privileged.
There are reports of a new town being planned in
Bedian between Lahore and Wagah, where only eight-acre
plots for mansions and estates would be developed.
For the country, investment in real estate from
within and abroad, has replaced capital formation
for productive use in the economy. Pakistan’s economy
has more or less become a real estate economy. Huge
capital has been invested in this unproductive sector.
Little is thus available for investment in genuine
economic activity. The land grab mafia has sprouted
in every town and city, boosting all sorts of crimes
and corruption.
President Musharraf set a noble example in 1999
when he declared his assets after taking over. Eye
brows were, however, raised, why he had to have
seven or eight plots, including commercial plots,
in different defence housing societies across the
country.
Asfandyar Wali Khan was intrigued by the revelation
that the President owns a plot in Gwadar as well.
"Is he going to build a house and live there,"
he had asked. Recently when he purchased a five-acre
farm in Islamabad which is worth crores, it was
stated that he sold one of his commercial plots
in Lahore to pay for that.
It is argued that the President had done nothing
illegal as the rules permit an army officer to get
more than one plot. The point is, how far is this
ethically correct. If he surrenders his other plots
and makes the rule that only one plot can be allotted
to any officer in the country for building a house,
the President would radically change the entire
environment of “jealousy”. Instead, he would create
tremendous goodwill for himself and the institution.
In this context an encounter with another military
dictator is instructive. When in 1976, Gen. Zia
was named COAS, this writer and another dear friend
who also knew Zia since he was Lt. Colonel, invited
him to a cup of tea at the Multan Press Club. This
friend was building a house but had not been able
to complete it.
Zia asked him:” Masood Sahib, have you been able
to build your house?” Zia was told that it is as
yet not even half complete. “Masood Sahib, I am
sure you will be able to build it now that you have
started it. Look at me. I am at the fag end of my
career, and I cannot even think of building a house.”
How many generals, nay even captains and majors
of today can repeat those words? |
