Rawalpindi Development Authority. PHOTO: ONLINE
RAWALPINDI:
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), already facing 143 illegal housing projects and a Rs 2 billion mega financial scandal, has found itself in another controversy after approving the land development 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 the objections raised by the concerned citizen and the request for cancellation of the LOP, RDA Director General Kaniza Murtaza constituted a high-level commission of inquiry to look into the matter.
According to sources, the RDA has approved the development plan of Hawks Melbourne Housing Society, located in Mouza Gora Bharta, Tehsil Rawalpindi, in the RDA controlled area. The company is said to belong to the nephew of an influential personality.
In a written complaint submitted to RDA, Ali Asghar Kiyani, son of Raja Ali Akbar, a resident of Mouza Gora Bharta, Tehsil and Rawalpindi district, claimed that his khasra numbers belonging to his family – amounting to 51 kanals and 17 marlas – had been included in the approved layout 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 directed it to submit a land verification and ownership determination report within 10 days, including a review of the khasra numbers included in the approved LOP.
However, the committee – comprising Director Finance, Director Town Planning, Deputy Director IT, Deputy Director Town Planning and Naib Tehsildar – is yet to submit its report.
Meanwhile, 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 for verification of land ownership was ignored due to corporate influence.
RDA spokesperson Hafiz Muhammad Irfan said Hawks Melbourne Housing Society was awarded the LOP by the RDA MP&T Directorate after verification and public notice through advertisement.
