Landlord in a fix for renting to Chinese

Renting a house to Chinese nationals in Defence Housing Authority has proved costly to the landlord.

Hearing a petition, filed by a citizen against the demand of the police to provide boarding and lodging to cops on security duty of Chinese tenants, the Sindh High Court has summoned SSP Security One.

The property owner says that police demand space and other facilities in the name of providing security to his Chinese tenants, which is totally uncalled for. Police is a government department and the government should make arrangements for them and bear their expenses.

Petitioner's counsel, Raj Ali Wahid Kunwar Advocate argued that police officials were harassing his client.

Officers are demanding that space for them be allocated inside the house and that the landlord cover their daily expenses.

The lawyer further submitted that the petitioner's house is not listed as a sensitive location, and therefore, the demand to accommodate police officials inside the residence is unconstitutional. He argued that landlords cannot be deprived of their fundamental rights for the sake of tenant security.

During the hearing, the court remarked, if the petitioner does not want security, it may be waived. The lawyer clarified that his client had not refused allowing security to his Chinese tenants but objected to police personnel residing inside the house and demanding daily expenses. He suggested that the police personnel could set up a tent outside the residence instead, as their presence inside the bungalow would compromise the privacy of residents.

The court summoned SSP Security One on the next hearing and extended the stay order until April 8.