ISLAMABAD: An official of Intelligence Bureau (IB) has accused its senior officers of sacking him for filing a petition against the bureau’s real estate entity, the Gulberg Housing Scheme.

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Monday resumed hearing of the petition filed by Inspector Sarang Chandio against the appointment of coordinators for the housing scheme of IB.

Mr Chandio alleged that he was recently sacked by the authorities for filing the petition.It may be mentioned that a serving joint director general of IB looks after the affairs of Gulberg Housing Scheme.

The IHC chief justice on a number of occasions questioned the launch of real estate projects by key government institutions such as the IB, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Ministry of Interior.

Hearing an identical case, Justice Minallah had observed that IB and FIA were running societies and every institution in the federal capital has got involved in real estate business. Justice Minallah remarked that since the termination of the petitioner was not before the court, he advised Mr Chandio to concentrate on his petition.

When the court sought a reply from the counsel for IB, the latter sought time. In October last year, the hearing on the petition was adjourned after the counsel for the intelligence agency told the court that he was not prepare to argue.

However, the court again granted time to the counsel to submit a reply till April 29.

In October, Justice Minallah had asked the intelligence agency to explain how a government officer could run a real estate business. He had also asked the counsel whether the IB officers could get themselves involved in such a business, and termed it a serious matter and conflict of interest.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2021