NAB K-P DG asked to vacate govt residence

Notice issued to the director general of NAB K-P to vacate the government residence

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday gave two months to the director general of National Accountability Bureau Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to vacate the government residence he is living in, situated in Race Course Garden in the city.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Irshad Qaiser issued the order while hearing a petition filed by the government. As per the case details, the administration secretary had sent a notice to the DG to vacate the said house, however, the NAB DG then summoned the estate officer to explain why he was sent the notice.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Additional Advocate General Qaiser Ali Shah provided a list that included information on different people living in residences allotted to various government officials.

The bench expressed concern over houses allotted to Lal Khan, assistant director at K-P auditor general office; Amjad Afridi, adviser to the CM on sports, tourism and culture; and Azmat Hanif Orakzai, the chief commissioner of Right to Services Commission, among others.

Administration department’s deputy secretary told the court that the auditor general was informed about Lal Khan’s illegal occupation of the government residence on May 14, but no response has been received yet.

However, the court was told that Afridi could continue to live in the official residence since he is a member of the provincial cabinet and his status is that of a provincial minister.

The court then directed the administration deputy secretary to provide information on Khan, Afridi and Orakzai so as to find out under what regulations these people were allotted the residences.

Deputy Prosecutor General Muhammad Jamil Khan requested the court to allow extra time to NAB DG to relocate. The court then gave the official two months to vacate the house.

A few months ago, the K-P government had asked the NAB DG to relocate to the official colony for NAB employees.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2015.