Rawalpindi Development Authority. PHOTO: ONLINE
RAWALPINDI:
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), already facing 143 illegal housing schemes and a Rs2 billion mega financial scandal, has landed in yet another controversy after approving the layout plan (LOP) of a housing corporation 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 from the concerned citizen and a demand for cancellation of the LOP, Director General RDA Kaniza Murtaza constituted a high-level inquiry committee to look into the matter.
According to sources, RDA approved the layout plan of Hawks Melbourne Housing Society located in Mouza Gora Bharta, Tehsil Rawalpindi, within the RDA controlled area. The society is said to be owned by the nephew of an influential person.
In a written complaint submitted to the RDA, Ali Asghar Kiyani, son of Raja Ali Akbar, a resident of Mouza Gora Bharta, Tehsil and District Rawalpindi, alleged that the khasra numbers owned by him and his family – equivalent to 51 kanals and 17 marlas – had been included in the housing society’s approved layout plan. He demanded immediate cancellation of the approved LOP.
On December 6, 2025, DG RDA Kaniza Murtaza constituted an inquiry committee and directed it to submit a land verification and ownership report within 10 days, including a review of khasra numbers included in the approved LOP.
However, the committee – consisting of the director of finance, director of urban planning, deputy director of IT, deputy director of land development and naib tehsildar – has yet to submit its report.
Meanwhile, the RDA has declared the approved layout plan of the said housing society as “under litigation” on its official website pending the resolution of the dispute.
It is relevant to note that before approving a housing association’s layout plan, verification of ownership of the land by the association’s owner is a mandatory requirement. In this case, it is alleged that the requirement of verification of land ownership was ignored due to community influence.
RDA spokesperson Hafiz Muhammad Irfan stated that Hawks Melbourne Housing Society was issued LOP by MP&T Directorate of RDA after verification and public notification through advertisement.
