**University Town Housing Society Victims Voice Strong Concerns Over RDA’s Ineffective Order, Call for Judicial Probe**
Victims of University Town Housing Society have strongly criticized a recent order issued by the Director General of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), describing it as vague, ineffective, and biased in favor of the developer. Speaking at the National Press Club Islamabad, representatives of the affected residents alleged collusion between RDA officials and the developer, and demanded a transparent investigation—possibly through a judicial commission—to address points of contention in the order and secure their rights.
During the press conference, victim representatives including Umar Sadiq Khattak, Arshad Hussain Zalmi, Malik Nisar Ahmed, Barrister Mumtaz Babar, Sarfraz Chadhar Advocate, Asim Shehzad, Haroon Rasheed, Shafqat Ali, and Khalid Masood Bajwa recounted a litany of grievances. They stated that the housing scheme was established in 1992 under the banner of Khyber Welfare Housing Society (KHS) for employees of Allama Iqbal Open University. RDA had issued NOCs (No Objection Certificates) to the scheme in 2002 and 2006. However, they claimed that Abdul Aziz Khan—a steno typist at the University and then-convener of KHS—fraudulently registered the housing society in Faisalabad without member consent, and later transformed it into a private business under the name University Town Private Limited through another registration in Islamabad.
According to the victims, this was achieved by forging documents to obtain an NOC from RDA under the new name in 2021, and implementing self-styled rules that contravened the Punjab Housing Scheme Act 2021. The management is accused of engaging in widespread fraud, looting, and deception, with basic residential facilities missing even after three decades. Only 500 houses have been built, and residents reportedly face intimidation tactics—including police involvement from various stations and false accusations—to silence dissent.
Further compounding issues, the victims allege that the administration unlawfully received NOCs for 3,454 kanals of land while owning only 2,350 kanals, resulting in thousands of bogus plot files. Additional charges—including those for development, litigation, LPG plants, and miscellaneous items—were allegedly collected illegally. Plot files for land sold to a neighboring society were also sold to victims and later cancelled as illegal.
As complaints mounted, the RDA’s DG convened a meeting in September 2024 with both sides, leading to a 27-point agenda signed by the developer for grievance resolution within set timelines. Victims asserted that the developer failed to comply with any of the directives or alleviate any single complaint. In response to evidence of fraud and deception, police filed an FIR (No. 597/25) against the administration under relevant penal codes, but the accused secured pre-arrest bail, which was ultimately cancelled by the Additional District and Sessions Judge Rawalpindi. The accused subsequently absconded, and their subsequent bail petitions in the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench were linked to the issuance of a speaking order by the DG RDA, which was supposed to take into account the positions of all stakeholders.
Victims emphasized that meetings were held between RDA, the developer, and victims in late June 2025, with assurances of relief. However, a speaking order issued at the end of June, though prepared in compliance with court directives, failed to offer any meaningful redress. The court then extended the accused’s bail until the next hearing, with the RDA’s counsel seeking further time to implement the order with the sponsor.
The victims cautioned that the entire process appears designed to retroactively legitimize irregularities, collect additional fees, and create an impression of progress, while real issues remain unaddressed. They expressed fears that even criminal proceedings, including the FIR, might ultimately benefit the developer instead of delivering justice. Victims plan to strengthen their campaign by filing new writ petitions and maintaining pressure during court proceedings to sustain their fight for justice.
Additionally, formal appeals have been submitted to the Chairman of NAB (National Accountability Bureau) for a thorough investigation. The press conference concluded with a protest by victims outside the National Press Club, demanding enforcement of their rights and an end to alleged exploitation by the management.
