Illegal occupation: Housing ministry seeks magisterial powers

According to the minister 2,800 government houses have been illegally occupied by people

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Housing and Works Akram Khan Durani on Thursday said that magisterial powers should be entrusted to the ministry to take action against people who are illegally occupying government accommodation.

The minister said this on Thursday in a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Works at Parliament House.

MNA Muhammad Akram Ansari chaired the meeting.

The minister for housing and works told the committee that more than 2,800 government houses have been illegally occupied by people as no occupancy records are available with the State Office.

He said that the ministry was in the process of formally intimating the interior ministry seeking their help in taking actions against these people.

He said that notices have already been served to the illegal occupants with instruction that those having legal allotment letters should produce them before the State Department or immediately vacate government houses.

The minister said that a number of employees of the State Office have either been suspended or transferred for their role in illegal allotments.

The committee also recommended that the ministry should be given magisterial powers to vacate illegal occupancies.

Meanwhile, the committee formed an inquiry panel to look into illegal occupation of government houses in Islamabad. The panel comprises subcommittee members Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Rana Zahid Hussain Khan.

The minister informed the meeting that 500 retired officials have not yet vacated government houses.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2016.