ISLAMABAD: A senate panel on Wednesday recommended freezing and sealing of accounts and offices of managements of Ghauri Town and Ghauri Greens for allegedly defrauding people.

The committee also discussed issues related to Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Employees Cooperative Housing Society and sought a report from the registrar office in this regard within one week.

Furthermore, a resolution was passed to pay homage to Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s lifelong struggle for the Kashmir cause.

Ghauri Town and Greens are two of the capitals largest unauthorised schemes comprising of many phases. These schemes are operating without the approval of Capital Development Authority (CDA) and surprisingly, they have grown constantly without regulatory check.

All these matters were discussed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior with Senator Mohsin Aziz in the chair.

Both schemes operating without CDA’s approval, committee told

Besides violating laws and regulations of the civic agency, these two societies have also allegedly defrauded a large number of people, who despite submitting full payments have not been given plots, committee members pointed out.

Several people who had not been given possession of plots despite waiting for years were also present. “When we visit Abdur Rehman for getting possession of our plots, he says, we should go to Usman. These two are operators and partners and are defrauding people,” one of them told committee members.

Chairman of the committee said it is likely that fraud has taken place and relief should be provided to those affected by it. Members suggested that a letter should be written to police, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other relevant authorities regarding the freezing and sealing of accounts and offices of the societies in question.

Furthermore, officials concerned representing the PAEC Employees Cooperative Housing Society informed the committee members that there are 1,600 people, to whom plots have not been allotted. The committee chairman directed these officials to submit a detailed report about this within seven days.

Meanwhile, the committee discussed Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2021 moved by Senator Saadia Abbasi. Mover of the bill pleaded that police officials involved in extra judicial killings should be tried in court under 302 of the PPC.

Chairman of the committee expressed concern over increasing incidents of rape, cases of child abuse and violence against women across the country. He said that public hearings solely focusing on these matters should be conducted.

In response to an issue raised by Senator Dilawar Khan regarding the “un-professional attitude of Islamabad police regarding a theft incident in G-14/3” police officials informed the committee that the case is under investigation.

Two bills, The Factories (Amendment) Bill 2021 and The Islamabad Rent Restriction (Amendment) Bill 2021, were unanimously passed in the committee meeting after discussion.

Committee members offered Fateha for the late Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and two soldiers of the Pakistan Army who embraced martyrdom recently. To pay homage to the lifelong struggle of Mr Geelani, chairman of the committee moved a resolution which was unanimously adopted.

Chairman of the committee took notice of an incident that took place in Larkana where Sindh police forcefully stopped PTI Senator Saifullah Abro from holding a planned public meeting. Senator Abro added that the Sindh government is politicising the police.

Secretary, Ministry of Interior assured committee members that a report in this regard will be sought from the quarters concerned and the matter will also be taken up with the IG and chief secretary Sindh.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2021