ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Housing and Works has rejected the request of the inspector general of police (IGP) Islamabad for restoration of his cancelled accommodation in the capital.

The housing ministry in February this year cancelled the allotment of the house to IGP Dr Akbar Nasir Khan as he was residing in a designated house at F-7, Islamabad.

The Estate Office of the housing ministry revoked the allotment of the house to Mr Khan in the light of an order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The IHC in November last year dismissed the petition of a section officer, seeking allotment of a house in G-8, which was also in the possession of the IGP in addition to the latter’s designated house.

Section officer Waqas Ali Khan of the Interior Ministry was residing in a government accommodation in G-8. The house was originally allotted to his mother, however, after her retirement he retained it.

He filed the petition against ‘forced’ eviction from the house as the Estate Office allotted the same residence to the IGP. The counsel for the petitioner advocate Danyal Hassan said the section officer’s wedding ceremony was scheduled on Nov 17.

He said the police forcibly evicted the officer from the house along with his belongings.

He argued that the Estate Office did not issue any prior notice to the occupant before the forced eviction, adding the petitioner may be allowed to retain the house till his wedding ceremony was over.

The Estate Office on Feb 1 issued a letter, stating that the allotment to IGP had been “cancelled/withdrawn as he is already residing in IG House of Islamabad Police.”

The letter stated: “The vacant possession of the house may immediately be handed over to Enquiry Office concerned under intimation of this office; so that same may be allotted to any applicant from General Waiting List (GWL).” Deputy Inspector General Awais Ahmed on March 14, 2023, wrote a letter to the housing ministry for restoration of the allotment of the house in the name of the IGP.

The housing ministry on May 10 responded that the request “cannot be acceded to in the light of Islamabad High Court judgement.” It may be mentioned that the IHC in the order had observed that no civil servant can retain more than one official accommodation and ordered the IGP to vacate the designated house “after taking over the possession of this [G-8] house.”

The court also directed the secretary Ministry of Housing and Works “to conduct the survey of all the civil servants living in Islamabad with reference to their place of posting other than Islamabad (Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta etc.) and they are enjoying the Government accommodation in the other Province.”

The court directed that “their allotment be cancelled with immediate effect in accordance with law and recommendation may also be given to the Establishment Division to initiate departmental action against those officials, who are retaining more than one accommodation by submitting their false affidavit and credentials in the applications for allotment of the government accommodation under the rules.”

However, the order is yet to be complied with.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2023