PESHAWAR: The Department of Local Government and Rural Development Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has declared a housing scheme in Haripur, known as New Khanpur City, illegal and violating local government regulations.
The Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) has formally charged the Tehsil Officer Infrastructure (TOI) of Khanpur for the violation and is seeking their response.
The scheme was allegedly established on land earmarked for agricultural purposes.
It was issued a NOC/LOP (Layout Plan) by the TMA without proper investigation into the ownership of the land, according to a complaint filed by Muhammad Khurshid Khan, the alleged original owner of the land.
In June of last year, Khurshid Khan submitted an application to the Provincial Local Government Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, alleging that the land on which the New Khanpur City Housing Scheme was built was his own property and was specifically earmarked for agricultural use.
He further stated that the TMA Khanpur had issued the NOC/LOP for the scheme in a hasty manner, without properly investigating the ownership of the land.
Furthermore, the LOP was issued in the name of a company named New Khanpur City Private Limited, which was registered after the issuance of the NOC, and the company had no land registered in Khanpur.
The petitioner requested that a forensic audit be conducted to find out the truth behind the illegal issuance of the NOC/LOP so that the fake owners and potential buyers of plots in the scheme could be identified and prevented from fraudulently extorting money from unsuspecting buyers.
In response to the complaint, Municipal Secretary Syed Zaheerul Islam Shah established a two-member investigation committee, which found the Tehsil Officer guilty of irregularities in the issuance of the NOC/LOP.
The charge sheet issued to the TOI states that the Site Development Rules, 2005 do not permit the issuance of a provisional NOC to a housing scheme.
The charge sheet also revealed that basic amenities such as gas, electricity, water, street lights, roads, and sewerage system were not ensured while issuing the NOC/LOP.
Additionally, the total area of the scheme was not disclosed and the situation on the ground was not confirmed, both of which were the responsibility of the TMA.
The Secretary of Local Government has warned that further action will be taken if the TOI does not respond.
A civil court in Haripur has also issued an injunction against the “New Khanpur City” housing scheme. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 14th.
Malik Muhammad Khurshid, the land’s original owner, has expressed his belief that the investigation results and the court injunction will prevent people from losing their deposit on the fake plots.
