ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday reserved order on the petition filed by a section office of the interior ministry against ‘out of turn’ allotment of government house to the Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad police Nasir Akbar Khan.

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

IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani resumed hearing of the petition of section officer Waqas Ali Khan against ‘forced’ eviction from the house as the estate office allotted the same residence to the incumbent IG Islamabad Nasir Akbar Khan. The counsel for the petitioner advocate Danyal Hassan said the section officer’s wedding ceremony is scheduled on Nov 17.

He said that 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 forced eviction adding that the petitioner may be allowed to retain the house till his wedding ceremony is over.

He further said the ministry of housing and works under the allocation rules can allot the said house to the section officer and his request in this regard was under process.

The deputy attorney general (DAG) told the court that the section officer was residing in the house without any formal authorisation or allotment.

The DAG said the house was never allotted to Waqas, while IG Islamabad was in the waiting list since 2015.

He said the house in question is one category above the entitlement of the section officer adding that he had been allotted Category V which he refused.

The petitioner on the other hand told the court that the ministry has allotted designated house to IG in F-7 and he cannot keep two government accommodations simultaneously.

Justice Kayani questioned allotment of second accommodation to IG. He asked: “Will IG surrender the designated house after the allotment of another house?”

He observed a government officer cannot retain two government accommodations at a time.

The court intended to take affidavit from secretary housing that an officer can retain one house and if an officer found in possession of second official accommodation, the secretary housing would be dealt in accordance with the law.

Justice Kayani remarked that the court would issue an appropriate order on allotment of house for government official. The court then reserved decision on the petition.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2022