ISLAMABAD: The executive committee of the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) has deferred a request for a residential plot for former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry in the F-14 or F-15 sectors.

Mr Chaudhry was offered a plot in I-8 during his tenure as chief justice, but he refused. The FGEHF has been exploring options over the last few years to allot a plot to the former chief justice after he showed his willingness to avail the offer.

Sources said the executive committee met on Tuesday and discussed the allotment of plot to the former chief justice in detail, but deferred it.

Allotment of a plot in F-14 or F-15 was deferred as sectors have not been developed yet

Mr Chaudhry was offered a category-I plot under the Prime Minister’s Assistance Package for BS-22 officers in 2008.

He refused the offer through the Supreme Court deputy registrar, in a letter, in 2009, stating: “The honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan has declined for the time being to accept the offer made by [FGEHF] dated 10-8-2009 for allotment of plot number 45-D, (measuring 60’x90’) sector I-8/2 Islamabad in his favour as his lordship had never asked for it, therefore, the said offered may be withdrawn immediately under intimation to this office.”

Sources said that the committee discussed the request, which was an agenda item, to allot a plot in F-14 or F-15, but could not reach a conclusion on the matter.

FGEHF Director General Waqas Mahmood said: “The executive committee discussed the case today but decided to defer the matter. F-14 was under consideration, but we think the sector is not developed yet and it is appropriate to defer the matter.”

According to a summary presented to the executive committee, available with Dawn, after Mr Chaudhry refused the plot offered in 2008, the director estate of the housing foundation offered Plot no.114-A, Street 7, D-12/2 to the former chief justice.

“Deputy Registrar Supreme Court vide letter dated 28-11-2013 informed the Housing Foundation that earlier plot number 45, sector I-8/2 was offered to former Chief Justice of Pakistan, the same may be finalised,” the summary stated, adding that as Mr Chaudhry had declined the I-8 plot, the plot in D-12/2 was allotted to him.

“However, the procedure for the allotment of this plot was not materialised.

“After his retirement, the Deputy Registrar, Supreme Court in 2016 made a request for allotment of plot number 114-A D-12/2 under prime minister assistance package may be finalised.

“The matter was placed before the 139th meeting of Board of Directors and after due deliberations it was decided that as earlier the former chief justice of Pakistan had refused to accept the allotment letter, therefore the instant application for allotment of plot in not justified and the said plot may be allotted to senior most judge of Supreme Court.

Accordingly the said plot has already been allotted and at present there is no plot available in sector D-12 ,” the summary went on.

It said an associate of the former chief justice had requested a category-I plot in F-14 or F-15, which the summary said may be considered.

However, the committee deferred the matter after detailed deliberation.

FGEHF spokesperson Sajid Asadi confirmed that the matter to allot a plot to Mr Chaudhry was presented and then deferred.

Asked about reports that the committee had approved the request, he said: “No, the committee deferred the matter as the fate of sectors F-14 and F-15 is yet to be decided.”

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2018