LAHORE: A retired bureaucrat has forced the widow of former Punjab chief secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal to run from pillar to post to get possession of a government residence allotted to her husband during his lifetime.

The late Abdullah Sumbal was allotted 16-Golf Road residence in GOR-I on July 20, 2022, with a direction that the allotment order for Planning Commission of Pakistan Deputy Chairman Jehanzeb Khan stood cancelled. Sumbal, who was residing with his parents at Lahore Cantt, however, allowed Mr Khan to continue staying at the GOR-I residence.

The situation took an unfortunate turn with the death of Sumbal on Sept 6 last year and his wife, Dr Ainul Momina, eventually was left stranded as she ended up living with her parents after her husband’s demise.

Though the Punjab government, on Nov 21 last year, formally allowed Sumbal’s widow to retain the 16-Golf Road residence till Jan 21, 2030 – the date of superannuation of her late husband, it failed to get the house vacated from Jahanzeb Khan’s possession.

As the possession was not granted, Dr Momina, a Harvard graduate, says she yet again applied for the vacation of her allotted house some two months back. She said she was waiting for the Punjab government’s action with her fingers crossed.

The caretaker Punjab Cabinet, it may be mentioned, had taken up the case in its 37th meeting on Jan 24 this year and agreed to get the residence vacated from the illegal possession of Mr Jehanzeb Khan and grant the possession to Dr Momina.

Sources in the bureaucracy alleged that the bureaucratic circle close to Jehanzeb Khan suggested to him to apply for re-extension in the possession and eventually delayed the decision on his application to maintain the status quo. However, the bureaucrats sympathising with Sumbal’s widow wonder what motivated Mr Khan to stay stubborn and wrongfully fight against a widow.

“There is a strong resentment among bureaucrats over the delay in allotment of the house to Dr Momina,” a source asserted.

When contacted, Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman acknowledged that Jehanzeb Khan had applied for re-extension and added that such an extension was not permitted under the rule. He also said that Mr Khan might not be able to get the extension for the GOR-1 residence allotment “unless the authority approves”.

It is learnt that the Punjab government has moved a summary to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her decision as she is the final authority to decide whether the extension be granted to Mr Khan or dispense justice by allotting the residence to Sumbal’s widow.

Dr Momina says the GOR-1 residence has been allotted in her name but despite all efforts of the caretaker government, the possession could not be vacated.

“This is a classical example of helplessness of a woman as I myself is a member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and was amongst the panelists on International Women’s Day event chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz,” she lamented and observed that Jehanzeb Khan should not have done this to her while trampling moral and legal grounds.

Dawn tried to contact Mr Khan for his version but he could not be reached despite efforts.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2024