A major development has emerged in the housing sector of Gulberg Greens, where authorities have removed the long-serving secretary of the housing society Shujaat Ullah Qureshi following serious allegations of fraud and financial irregularities. The action came after the decision of the Registrar Cooperative Societies Islamabad, which ordered the removal of the society’s secretary Shujaat ullah Qureshi, also known, who had been considered one of the most influential figures in the society’s affairs for years.
According to the Sources of The Inquirer, the decision came
amid growing complaints from investors and residents who accused the previous
management of irregular allotments, manipulation of society records and
large-scale financial misconduct. Investigations and complaints circulating
among authorities suggest that the alleged fraud could exceed Rs300 million,
making it one of the most significant scandals to hit a private housing scheme
in Islamabad in recent years.
The controversy has also drawn attention because of a
criminal case registered at Koral Police Station.
According to the First Information Report, a businessman
involved in real estate dealings in Gulberg Islamabad for nearly a decade has
accused several individuals of orchestrating a sophisticated fraud involving
commercial plots located in Markaz Gulberg Residencia.
The complainant, Aizaz Ahmed Abbasi, stated that the accused
including Bahadur Khan, Zeeshan and Akash Javed, allegedly convinced him that
commercial plots numbered 110, 107 and 111 in Gulberg Residencia were fully
owned by them and had already been cleared by the society. The plots were
described as 50x50 commercial units located in the Markaz area, which is considered
one of the prime commercial zones within the housing scheme.
According to the FIR, the accused allegedly used their
claimed close association with former society secretary Shujaat ullah Qureshi
to strengthen their claims and reassure the investor that all payments would be
deposited with the society and that there were no legal obstacles to the
allotment of the plots. Trusting these assurances, the complainant reportedly
entered into the transaction and transferred assets worth approximately Rs18 crore.
The FIR states that as part of the deal, the complainant
transferred a farmhouse valued at around Rs9 crore, while the remaining Rs9
crore was paid through a combination of bank cheques and cash payments.
However, after receiving the money and property, the accused allegedly failed
to deposit the payments with the housing society and did not complete the legal
transfer of the plots.
The situation took a dramatic turn on January 3, 2026, when
the complainant received formal written communication from the housing society
stating that no payment had been deposited against the mentioned plots. The
letter further warned that the allotments could be cancelled if the required
payments were not made to the society.
This communication reportedly exposed the alleged scheme,
making it clear that the accused had misrepresented the ownership and status of
the plots from the beginning. Investigators believe that forged documents and
fabricated assurances were used to create the impression that the plots had been
legitimately allotted through the society’s administration.
Following the revelation, the complainant claims he
repeatedly approached the accused to resolve the matter and demanded either the
return of his money and property or proper clearance of the plots. However, he
alleges that the accused adopted an evasive attitude and even resorted to
threats rather than addressing the complaint.
Police officials say the complaint led to the registration
of a criminal case under sections 420, 468, 471 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal
Code, which relate to cheating, forgery and the use of forged documents in
furtherance of a criminal conspiracy. The case has triggered an investigation
into bank transactions, property transfers and the role of society officials.
Meanwhile, the removal of the former secretary by the
Registrar Cooperative Societies has added another dimension to the unfolding
controversy. Residents and investors claim that irregularities in the society’s
management had been reported for years, including allegations that some
individuals were issuing unofficial allotment letters or lottery documents to
investors without depositing payments into the society’s official accounts.
Sources within the housing sector say that many buyers were
allegedly given documents suggesting that their plots had been allotted through
a lottery or internal society approval, only to later discover that the
society’s records showed no payment or official allotment against those plots.
The scandal has raised serious questions about oversight and
transparency in Islamabad’s rapidly expanding housing market. Experts warn that
such cases highlight the risks faced by investors who rely solely on private
agreements or verbal assurances without verifying official records with housing
societies and regulatory authorities.
Investigators are now examining society records, bank
transactions and property documents to determine the full extent of the alleged
fraud and to identify other possible victims. Authorities say arrests may
follow as the investigation progresses, while officials are also trying to
determine whether more individuals within the society administration were
involved.
For many investors, the case has become a cautionary tale
about the vulnerabilities within the real estate sector, where large sums of
money often change hands based on trust and informal arrangements. If the
allegations are proven, the case could expose one of the most significant fraud
schemes linked to a housing society in Islamabad, potentially affecting dozens
of investors and shaking confidence in the capital’s property market.
Registrar Cooperative Societies also appointed Muhammad Zaheer
as new secretary.
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