01-26-2010, 01:18 PM
ISLAMABAD – Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) believes that it is unable to implement the NAB orders to freeze the assets of President Asif Ali Zardari in the Capital due to change in the property’s ownership title.
Talking to TheNation, senior ICT officials on anonymity said the property in question was not in the same name, as it was released under the defunct National Reconciliation Ordinance after October 2007.
“It was in the name of one Nisar Khan when it was unfrozen under the NRO and meanwhile, he transferred it to another party named Park Lane Estate Pvt Limited reportedly owned by President Zardari, his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and some property tycoons,” the officials said. “Now we find no legal authority to proceed against a third party, unless so directed specifically by the NAB,” they added.
The sources in the administration claimed that no action could be taken by ICT administration to freeze the 2,460 kanals of Sangjani land that is reportedly the property of President Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. This land could be termed as an example of numerous benefits drawn under the NRO before it was struck down by the apex court.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had directed the high ups of ICT through a letter to freeze all the assets on the same position of October 4, 2007 before the promulgation of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). A copy of the judgment of Supreme Court about the short order on NRO had also been attached with the said letter. The officials further said that ICTA after scrutinizing its Revenue record would seek directions to freeze those assets that were not in the name of the same person before and after NRO situation. They told TheNation that even the existing revenue rules did not permit to freeze the assets of any person by the Revenue Department itself but the department did this on the directions of NAB.
Talking to TheNation, senior ICT officials on anonymity said the property in question was not in the same name, as it was released under the defunct National Reconciliation Ordinance after October 2007.
“It was in the name of one Nisar Khan when it was unfrozen under the NRO and meanwhile, he transferred it to another party named Park Lane Estate Pvt Limited reportedly owned by President Zardari, his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and some property tycoons,” the officials said. “Now we find no legal authority to proceed against a third party, unless so directed specifically by the NAB,” they added.
The sources in the administration claimed that no action could be taken by ICT administration to freeze the 2,460 kanals of Sangjani land that is reportedly the property of President Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. This land could be termed as an example of numerous benefits drawn under the NRO before it was struck down by the apex court.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had directed the high ups of ICT through a letter to freeze all the assets on the same position of October 4, 2007 before the promulgation of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). A copy of the judgment of Supreme Court about the short order on NRO had also been attached with the said letter. The officials further said that ICTA after scrutinizing its Revenue record would seek directions to freeze those assets that were not in the name of the same person before and after NRO situation. They told TheNation that even the existing revenue rules did not permit to freeze the assets of any person by the Revenue Department itself but the department did this on the directions of NAB.