‘Evict illegal dwellers in 60 days’

Housing ministry told to file new report on repossessed govt houses

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the government two months to evict the illegal occupiers of all state properties in the federal capital and then submit a report.

This was directed as a two-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC), headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, heard the suo-moto case on the illegal occupation of state properties in Islamabad.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the court reviewed a report on how many state properties in the federal capital have been evicted so far. Submitted by the Ministry of Housing and Works, the court termed the report as 'dissatisfactory' and based on 'lies'.

Next time, a proper report should be submitted with signatures of the housing and works secretary on it, the court directed.

CJ Ahed remarked that public servants have been allotted state-owned residences even though they own private homes in the city. Hence, he said that many government officers have further given these houses rent.

Housing and Works Ministry Additional Secretary Zahoor Ahmed told the court that he had personally verified each occupied house before submitting the report.

He added that so far, occupants of 52 houses have been evicted.

Moreover, Zahoor told the court that the ministry has set up 48 inspection teams to locate all government residences in the Islamabad Capital Territory which have been rented out by their allotted. In this regard, he said that they found that 116 houses had been sublet.

Of these, he said that 31 have been evicted while they are still in the process of taking action against the rest, he said.

However, CJ Ahmed remarked that several state-owned properties remain occupied by unauthorised people. He cited complaints against a woman, identified as Durdana Kazmi, who is residing in a government house in Sector G-6.

The court said that Kazmi has refused to vacate the house on the pretext that her mother was sick.

"Government properties are only for public servants, not for others," the court observed.

It warned the officer that he could be sacked if he did not implement the court's orders.

At this, the additional secretary pleaded with the court for more time, promising to submit a report after completing the action against illegal occupants.

The chief justice remarked that ministry keeps seeking time to take action. He granted the ministry two months to take action and submit a report.

The bench also sought details of property-related cases pending before the lower courts.

The estate officer responded that there were 30 cases in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) which have been disposed of. Another 20 cases in the district and sessions court have also wound up. However, the official said that 48 of 64 cases are still pending before the civil courts.

Justice Ahsan recalled the SC's orders regarding pending cases in all lower courts and said that they must be concluded at the earliest.

Moreover, a Capital Development Authority (CDA) lawyer told the bench that several houses in Sector G-6 have been illegally occupied by officers of the Islamabad Police.

He added that the house in which Islamabad General Police (IGP) Aamir Zulfiqar Khan currently resides also belongs to the authority.

Justice Ahsan remarked that this was a matter between two state's institutions and that they should resolve it themselves.

However, CJ Ahmed said that they will look into the matter at the next hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2020.