ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Sindh government to get the official accommodations, occupied by illegal persons, vacated within two months, and submit its compliance report. The chief justice said they would examine possession of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) quarters by the Islamabad police on the next date of hearing.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heard the suo motu regarding unlawful occupation of the official residences. The chief justice directed the Additional Advocate General Sindh to get 229 official houses occupied by unauthorised persons within two months.
The AAG Sindh informed that due to the coronavirus pandemic the operation to vacate the official residences was halted. The CDA lawyer told that the house of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Islamabad was also unlawfully allotted.
He said the Islamabad police had occupied 200 quarters of the CDA. The additional attorney general said only four official residences in Islamabad were in possession of unlawful persons as their cases were pending in the courts. The court cancelled the illegal allotment of houses in Sindh, and directed that the official accommodations should be allotted on merit.
The court observed that its order for vacating all the official residences from illegal occupants had not been implemented in letter and spirit. In the last hearing, the apex court had sought details of state-owned residences that were inhabited by government officials.
The court ordered authorities to provide complete details of the officers who were allegedly illegally residing in those residences, and hinted stern action against the suspects who were accused of renting it out.
Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed observed that officials having their personal houses used to allot government residence, adding that most of the officials after allotting the official residences have rented it out on high fare.
The court expressing dissatisfaction had dismissed the Ministry of Housing report, and directed that a comprehensive report be submitted on the next date of hearing. The Court was informed that the report had been submitted before the court after conducting verification of every house. The official informed that they had started departmental action against illegal occupation.
The chief justice asked the official to immediately clear the official residences from illegal occupation by launching a crackdown through police. The case was adjourned for two weeks.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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