ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: The Ministry of Housing and Works has directed all government employees, who have been allotted houses by the Estate Office, to remove illegal constructions by February 1, sources told Dawn on Friday.

The Estate Office (EO) has observed that a large number of federal government servants, living in Sector G-6, have made illegal constructions in their houses and sublet it to other persons.

The sources said all illegal occupants of the EO houses had also been directed to vacate the quarters by February 1, after which strict action would be taken against them. “Any one found indulged in such malpractices will not only be evicted but disciplinary action will also be taken against him/her,” the sources said.

The sources said the EO had already issued eviction orders to ten persons in Sector G-6 for violating rules and regulations.

These persons then called on the federal minister for housing and works, Abbas Sarfaraz Khan.

However, they admitted before the minister that they had sublet their houses after making illegal constructions. They pleaded for forgiveness on the ground that such actions were generally condoned by previous governments. Moreover, they were poor people and had no other shelter.

The minister was of the view that the accused were not only liable to be evicted from these houses, disciplinary action could also be initiated against them, which could lead to their dismissal from service.

This action was in line with the present government’s policy to foster a culture of merit and adherence to rules and regulations, he added.

However, considering that all the affected persons were low paid employees, and that this tradition had been there over the last many years, it was decided purely on compassionate grounds to provide a last chance to all such persons to mend their ways.