Although no reference to a "Cooperative Society Scandal" in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, the following information may be of interest.

A January 2000 article reported that the former chief minister of NWFP, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, along with Zahir Shah, the former Director General of the Peshawar Development Authority, had been convicted by a provincial accountability court for the illegal allotment of plots in Hayatabad township, Peshawar, on 31 December 2000 (Dawn 1 Jan. 2000). Reportedly, Sherpao, who was tried under Clause 4 of the Ehtesab Act of 1997, was accused of allotting over 100 plots to "his supporters, members of parliament and assemblies and friends when he was in power between 1994-96" (ibid.). Sherpao and Shah were each fined 1 million rupees, which they were required to pay within the week (ibid.).

A later article reported that, on 18 July 2000, a three-member bench of the Peshawar High Court had acquitted both Sherpao and Shah of the charges and had also dismissed two appeals by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to "enhance the punishment of the convicts" (The News 19 July 2000). The court reportedly ruled that "the prosecution had failed to establish its case before the trial court" and that the charges had not been "substantiated by the prosecution" (ibid.).

An August 2001 article reported that, on 22 August 2001, an accountability court had declared Sherpao a "proclaimed offender" in a "reference pertaining to [the] illegal allotment of land" (Dawn 23 Aug. 2001). According to the article, both Sherpao and Shah, who was convicted and fined 0.434 million rupees in the case, were "co-accused in a reference" filed against Jawed Alam Khanzada, the former secretary of the Physical Planning and Housing Department (ibid.). Reportedly, the three were charged with allotting a two plots in Hayatabad township to Adbdur Rehman "in violation of rules and regulations" (ibid.). While two other "references" were pending against him, both the NAB and the accountability court reportedly accepted Khanzada's plea bargain and absolved him of all the charges (ibid.).

A more recent article reported that Sherpao, along with Shah, were accused of extending "undue benefit" to Khanzada, "in the name of his servants" (ibid. 27 Apr. 2002). In this case, plots were allotted to two persons (ibid. 14 Apr. 2002), Tila Muhammad and Ahmad Khan, in June and July of 1990 (ibid. 27 Apr. 2002). These plots were reportedly subsequently transferred to Khanzada's sons (ibid. 14 Apr. 2002).

An April 2002 article reported that an accountability court had acquitted Sherpao of the charges (ibid. 27 Apr. 2002). According to the article, the court ruled that, as chief minister of the NWFP, Sherpao "was competent to allot plots out of his discretionary quota," stating that "'the allotment made by him is neither illegal nor is it proved to be the result of any collusion constituting an offence punishable under the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance'" (ibid.). The court further ruled that the transfer of the plots to Khanzada's children six years later, "was not a conclusive proof of the alleged collusion nor [that] Mr. Sherpao had played any role in this subsequent move" (ibid.).

In another case, a June 2002 article reported that the NAB had arrested Sherpao upon his return to Pakistan on 6 January 2002 (ibid. 5 June 2002). According to the article, the only case pending against Sherpao was the "Ring Road Peshawar land acquisition scandal" (ibid.). Ten people, five of whom had absconded and five of whom were facing trial (ibid. 3 Apr. 2002), had been charged with inflicting a loss of 310 million rupees to the exchequer "by dishonestly fixing compensation of land situation in Mahal Lala Ahmad and village Saloo, Tehsil Peshawar at exorbitant rates" (ibid. 9 June 2002). Those who had absconded - Habibullah Kundi, Haji Khatam Gul, Jam Sher, Juma Sher, and Syed Ayub Shah - were sentenced in absentia to three years "rigorous imprisonment" (ibid.; ibid. 3 Apr. 2002). Sherpao, Haji Gul Sher, Mosam Khan, Nisar Muhammad and Dilawar Khan were reported to be facing trial (ibid. 9 June 2002).

As well, an August 2002 article reported that an accountability court had begun a corruption hearing against Sherpao on 31 July 2002 for "his alleged involvement in Islamabad New City scam" (ibid. 1 Aug. 2002). The co-accused in this case include ex-deputy speaker of the National Assembly Haji Nawaz Khokhar and the director of the National Housing Authority (NHA), Zahid Shafiq (ibid.). According to the article, the new city project was launched in 1996 as a "joint mega housing project" of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the NHA in Zone-V of Islamabad (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Dawn [Karachi, in English]. 1 August 2002. "AC Begins Hearing in Islamabad New City Scam." http://www.dawn.com/2002/08/01/nat17.htm [Accessed 10 Oct. 2002]

_____. 9 June 2002. "Attachment of Property Sought." http://www.dawn.com/2002/06/09/nat7.htm [Accessed 10 Oct. 2002]

_____. 5 June 2002. "Sherpao Released on Bail." http://www.dawn.com/2002/06/05/nat9.htm [Accessed 10 Oct. 2002]

_____. 27 April 2002. "Sherpao Acquitted in Plots Reference." http://www.dawn.com/2002/04/27/nat11.htm [Accessed 10 Oct. 2002]

_____. 14 April 2002. "Case Against Sherpao Put Off Till 19th." http://www.dawn.com/2002/04/14/nat13.htm [Accessed 10 Oct. 2002]

_____. 3 April 2002. "Reference Against Sherpao: Five Witnesses Examined." http://www.dawn.com/2002/04/03/nat8.htm [Accessed 10 Oct. 2002]

_____. 23 August 2001. "Sherpao Declared Proclaimed Offender." http://www.dawn.com/2001/08/23/nat16.htm [Accessed 10 Oct. 2002]

_____. 1 January 2000. "Sherpao Convicted in Plot Case." http://www.dawn.com/2000/01/01/top9.htm [Accessed 10 Oct. 2002]

The News [Islamabad, in English]. 19 July 2000. Abdullah Jan. "High Court Sets Aside Conviction of Former PPP Chief Minister." (FBIS-NES-2000-0719 19 Jul. 2000/WNC)

IRB databases

NEXIS

Internet sites including:

Dawn Wire Service

National Accountability Bureau

News International

Pakistan News Service

Rediff

World News Connection

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