ISLAMABAD, July 8: The Estate Office (EO) has got vacated its 27 houses that had been illegally occupied by the officials of the Capital police and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration, a source in the EO told Dawn on Monday.

The source said some 70 houses located in the capital were occupied by the officials of the local police and district administration out of which 27 had been vacated. He said these police officials were not entitled to acquire these houses. Despite this they did not get any approval from the EO prior to occupying these government residences.

Responding to a query, the source said an ordinance was being promulgated under which the EO officials would be empowered to take necessary action against the illegal occupants of the government houses.

He said a large number of these residences had reportedly been sublet to other people. The EO was helpless in taking action against them as these illegal occupants had obtained stay orders.

He said in compliance with the government’s directives, the EO was struggling hard to eradicate malpractice in the department and allot government houses on merit.

The source said besides political leaders, officials of the ICT administration, local police and retired CDA officials were also occupying these houses.

A large number of residential units have been given on political basis to political aides and influential people, the source added.

An EO official asked the government not to allot official residences to those government employees who had their own accommodation.

Talking about fresh allotment of government residences, he said when any government house or flat was vacated, it was allotted to other entitled persons according to a computerized general waiting list prepared by the EO.

To another question about illegal constructions in government houses in G-6 sector, the official said notices had been served on the residents for the removal of these constructions.

“We have demolished such constructions in four or five houses and the allotment of these houses have been cancelled,” he added.