Whether or not the idea actually
gets implemented, the NWFP government is planning to conduct an
elaborate survey to get an access to the official record of
property purchased in the shape of houses, shops or plots of
land by the Afghan refugees living in various parts of City by
fraudulently obtaining Pakistani national identity cards. As if
the concerned departments are absolutely helpless in offering
any clues, the government is seeking the cooperation of
intelligence agencies and even luring property dealers into the
drive on the condition that they may be given as much as 30
percent of the monetary commission in case the property they
help detect gets auctioned. The inquiries held so far have
revealed that the application forms of the involved refugees
submitted to Nadra for the acquisition of NICs have been
verified by the nazims. However, for reasons best known to Nadra,
it has neither brought the matter to the notice of the higher
authorities nor lodged any complaint against the verifying
individuals leave alone showing any skepticism over or raising
any objections to the facts submitted to it.
The people of Peshawar are aware
of the fact that some Afghan refugees have got their sons and
daughters married into Pakistani families. The concerned
families later cashed the situation by showing the street wisdom
of striking financial deals buying off property in the name of
their Pakistani sons-in-laws or daughters-in-law. In some cases
the refugees bought plots of land on lease for 10 years or more.
In greed for money, the low-ranking clerical staff of the
concerned departments not only connived at but also colluded
actively in getting the deals finalised. Since wealthy and
well-connected families from both countries are involved in such
deals, the task of the provincial government may not be simple
or easy.
