G 14/1: Landowners seek NAB intervention against FGEHA

As the matter now lands on NAB’s table, all eyes will be on whether the accountability watchdog can uncover the truth behind the alleged manipulation of compensation mechanisms — and if justice can finally be delivered to the rightful stakeholders of Islamabad’s evolving urban landscape

ISLAMABAD, JUN 17 /DNA/ – As the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) moves forward with settling compensation claims in Sector G-14/1 — one of Islamabad’s oldest localities encompassing the villages of Chellow and Jhangi Syedan — a wave of discontent has emerged among local landowners, who have now approached the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over alleged irregularities in the process.

Established initially as a cell under the Ministry of Housing and Works in 1989, the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) was elevated to the status of an authority through a presidential ordinance in July 2019. This transformation was subsequently formalized by the passage of the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority Act in January 2020.

Although development work in Sector G-14 began more than 15 years ago, the authority only recently initiated work in G-14/1. The sector, like others in the capital, is divided into four sub-sectors: G-14/1, G-14/2, G-14/3, and G-14/4. Development in the first three has progressed steadily, but G-14/1 lagged behind, primarily due to land acquisition disputes.

The FGEHA has now reportedly disbursed compensation cheques totaling Rs518.98 million across 32 property assessments. However, local residents claim that a majority of these payments were made to non-resident investors rather than to original landowners who have lived in the area for decades.

Several individuals received multiple cheques, and in some cases, multiple recipients belonged to the same family. In addition to cash payments, plots valued between Rs25 million to Rs30 million were also allotted to these beneficiaries.

This perceived favoritism has sparked outrage among around 300 local landowners, who allege they were unfairly excluded from the compensation process. Many claim that investors — in collusion with FGEHA officials — purchased claims from original landowners at nominal rates and later profited massively through a flawed compensation mechanism.

A local landowner, stated:

“This is not the first time the FGEHA has marginalized genuine locals. Time and again, we see a pattern where outside investors are given preferential treatment.”

He added that these practices compelled local landowners to file a formal complaint with NAB, demanding a full investigation. They have also submitted grievances to the FGEHA, seeking redressal.

When approached for comment, FGEHA Director (Land) Ihsan Ilahi confirmed receiving applications from aggrieved parties. However, he noted that the matter primarily falls under the jurisdiction of the Land Acquisition Collector and thus referred the complainants to the appropriate authority.

Meanwhile, FGEHA spokesperson Nasir Mahmood defended the authority’s actions, asserting that compensation was awarded strictly on merit and in accordance with established criteria.

“The allegations of cherry-picking are entirely baseless,” he said.

Nonetheless, the controversy has drawn the attention of the National Assembly’s subcommittee on housing and development, headed by local MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan. Khan acknowledged the discontent among local landowners and vowed to address their concerns in the committee’s next session.

“The villagers of Chellow and Jhangi Syedan have lived here for generations and deserve fair and transparent treatment. We will question FGEHA officials, including the Director General, in the upcoming meeting,” said MNA Khan.

He also congratulated the Ministry of Information, under the leadership of Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar, for its effective role in projecting Pakistan’s stance during the recent armed skirmishes with India, but emphasized that domestic accountability must remain a priority.

This latest episode adds to the long-standing concerns about transparency and equity in Islamabad’s urban expansion. While authorities claim to operate within legal frameworks, repeated grievances from genuine landowners highlight the need for enhanced oversight and stronger institutional checks.

As the matter now lands on NAB’s table, all eyes will be on whether the accountability watchdog can uncover the truth behind the alleged manipulation of compensation mechanisms — and if justice can finally be delivered to the rightful stakeholders of Islamabad’s evolving urban landscape.=DNA

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