JIT Uncovers Land Fraud Involving Pakistan Navy Association

ISLAMABAD: An official investigation has revealed a major fraud regarding the unlawful transfer of valuable land in the capital. The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) discovered that 136 kanals of prime Islamabad land were illegally transferred, a scheme allegedly orchestrated by a land mafia. This operation purportedly defrauded both the rightful owner and the Pakistan Navy Benevolent Association (PNBA) of significant funds.

The inquiry, prompted by the Prime Minister’s directives, indicated a caretaker and an accomplice conspired with a land provider to manipulate a Power of Attorney (POA), enabling the illicit sale of the land.

However, a representative from the Pakistan Navy dissented, dismissing the complainant’s account as implausible and vouching for the legitimacy of the transaction.

Details of the Fraud

The case centers on “Cyan Farms,” property belonging to Musharraf Rasool Cyan, a former high-ranking civil servant. Cyan claims that while serving abroad on a UN assignment, farm employees Muhammad Waqas and Muhammad Aleem Sohail plotted to sell his land.

The JIT’s primary finding suggests that Waqas and Sohail, influenced by a private land dealer named Faisal Mumtaz, deceived Cyan into signing a General Power of Attorney in July 2023.

The investigation revealed that Cyan was presented with a POA for management and court appearances. However, the registered copy included an unauthorized clause permitting the property’s sale. This additional authorization was appended to a section concerning court procedures, deviating from standard POA formats.

The National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Federal Science Laboratory (FSL) verified the authenticity of the signatures and thumbprints on the registered POA.

Despite this, the JIT determined that the document was manipulated at the time of signing, where Cyan signed one version, but a modified version was registered. The FSL also determined that the affidavit linked to the fraudulent POA was not authentic, further indicating ill intent.

Financial Trail

Financial records revealed that Muhammad Waqas, a farm worker, received Rs383.8 million from PNBA and Faisal Mumtaz. Waqas received Rs223.8 million in his account and withdrew Rs113 million in cash from Mumtaz’s account. He acknowledged receiving an additional Rs47 million in cash from Mumtaz. The payments went to Waqas, not the owner.

Investigators noted that Faisal Mumtaz and PNBA were in contact before the POA registration. Additionally, Mumtaz’s cousin served as a local witness on the POA, and another cousin was the Registry Muharrir.

The committee deemed Faisal Mumtaz’s explanations illogical, particularly his reliance on the assumption that his agreement with PNBA would materialize, despite the significant transaction amount.

The committee also questioned why Faisal Mumtaz, a local resident, did not approach the actual owner during the two-year transaction period.

Funds were subsequently dispersed, with Waqas withdrawing nearly Rs167 million in cash and transferring over Rs50 million to others, including Aleem Sohail. Sana Sohail, Aleem’s wife, deposited Rs34.64 million into a new account, providing a false salary slip.

The JIT identified assets worth over Rs180 million acquired with the illicit funds, including vehicles, jewelry, and property, which have been seized.

The investigation highlighted the anomaly of substantial payments being made to someone other than the rightful owner without any prior contact with the owner.

Recommendations and Dissent

The JIT, composed of representatives from various agencies and led by the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad, recommended immediate cancellation of the fraudulent land mutation and POA, freezing of involved parties’ assets, and filing an FIR against the culprits. They also proposed systemic reforms, including biometric verification for land transactions, and advised PNBA to exercise due diligence in future land acquisitions.

The committee suggested freezing the accounts and properties of the culprits and their families to recover the misappropriated funds.

The Pakistan Navy representative dissented, asserting the POA’s legal validity based on Cyan’s signatures and biometric verification. He questioned Cyan’s claim of deception, citing his experience as a senior bureaucrat. The commander argued that payment to the attorney was legal, and the purchaser was not obligated to ensure the funds reached the owner. He concluded no fraud was evident and recommended dismissing Cyan’s complaint, cautioning that canceling the mutation would harm PNBA.