Rawalpindi Development Authority. PHOTO: ONLINE
RAWALPINDI:
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), already facing 143 illegal housing schemes and a Rs 2,000-crore mega financial scandal, has been embroiled in another controversy after approving the layout plan (LOP) of a housing society allegedly owned by the nephew of a high-profile personality, despite the inclusion of land claimed by a private citizen and his family.
Following objections raised by the concerned citizen and the demand for cancellation of the LOP, GDR Director General Kaniza Murtaza constituted a high-level investigative committee to examine the matter.
According to sources, the RDA has approved the layout plan of Hawks Melbourne Housing Society, located in Mouza Gora Bharta, Tehsil Rawalpindi, within the RDA-controlled area. The company is said to be owned by the nephew of an influential figure.
In a written complaint submitted to the RDA, Ali Asghar Kiyani, son of Raja Ali Akbar, a resident of Mouza Gora Bharta, Tehsil and Rawalpindi district, claimed that his and his family’s khasra numbers, amounting to 51 kanals and 17 marlas, had been included in the approved distribution plan of the housing society. He demanded the immediate cancellation of the approved LOP.
On December 6, 2025, DG RDA Kaniza Murtaza constituted an inquiry committee and ordered it to submit a land verification and ownership determination report within 10 days, including a review of the khasra figures included in the approved LOP.
However, the committee, comprising director finance, director urban planning, deputy director IT, deputy director land development and naib tehsildar, is yet to submit its report.
Meanwhile, the RDA has declared the approved layout plan of the said housing society as “under dispute” on its official website until the dispute is resolved.
It is pertinent to note that before approving the layout plan of a housing society, verification of the ownership of the land by the owner of the society is a mandatory requirement. In this case, it is alleged that the requirement of verification of land ownership was ignored due to the influence of society.
RDA Spokesperson Hafiz Muhammad Irfan stated that the RDA MP&T Directorate issued the LOP to Hawks Melbourne Housing Society after verification and public notice through advertisement.
