ISLAMABAD, May 8: Though the ministry of housing has recently informed the Islamabad High Court that 42 police officials are living in government houses in violation of rules, some senior officials of the ministry are allegedly involved in illegal allotments.

In a recent case, a joint secretary of housing ministry Amna Imran Khan, also heading a team formed on the directions of the Supreme Court to find out illegal allotments, allegedly allotted three houses in her own name by making fake cases under Rule 12.

Rule 12 allows an allottee to exchange his house of the same category (size) with someone but on some genuine reasons.

Sources told Dawn that the joint secretary could allot houses on humanitarian grounds under Rule 29.

However, as the ministry has banned allotment under this rule on the directive of the apex court, she used Rule 12.

According to documents available with Dawn, house number 12-D, Street 5, sector F-6/2 (Category II), was allotted to Amna Imran Khan in 2010. She surrendered the house on November 14, 2011, in favour of Yasmin Yusouf Khan.

On September 5, 2012, the joint secretary allotted another house No 7 (Category I), G-10/3 in her name by using Rule 12.

She made the case that she wanted to exchange the house with her previous house, 12-D, F-6/2.

On December 26, 2012, she got another house allotted in her name - No 12-A Street 63, F-7/2 - showing the same excuse of surrendering the previous house No 12-D, F-6/2.

On March 4, 2013, she got allotment of another house No 7, Street 25, F-6/2, and once again exchanged it with 12-D, F-6/2.

An officer of the ministry of housing requesting not to be identified said once the JS handed over the house to Yasmin Yousuf Khan (her sister), she was left with no house.

But still she made fake cases under Rule 12 and allotted three houses in her name.

“If a person sitting on such an important post makes fake cases, how will she make sure a transparent survey of illegal allotments,” he said.

When Amna Imran Khan contacted, regarding the issue she avoided any statement. Dawn reporter later visited her office to get her version, an official Tahir Sidique told that she is in a meeting and would call back after a while.

An SMS was sent on her cell phone but she did not call back till filing of this report.

Ms Khan is not the only officer in the ministry who has allegedly been involved in fake allotment of houses.

An official of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) requesting anonymity said case number 6/13 regarding 80 illegal allotments had been registered with the FIA and investigation officer Naeem Iqbal had been working on it. “He has confirmed 18 fake cases. I am expecting that he will finalise the investigation soon,” he added.

When contacted, High Court lawyer Riasat Ali Azad said law did not allow any person to violate the procedure. “In fact, officers should be more responsible because if they start violating the law they will not be able to ensure implementation of the same,” he said.

Secretary housing Nasar Hayat showed unawareness of the issue as most of the allotments had been made during the tenure of his predecessor. However, he said he would hold an inquiry into the allotments and ensure transparency.

He has instructed the Estate Officer to stop work except surveying the houses and to shift all the record of Estate Office to the ministry. “Now each and everything will be computerised to stop such types of fraud,” he said.