LAHORE, April 24: Following in the footsteps of their DMG colleagues, a number of retired and serving top police officials are occupying residences of their department without any entitlement.

According to sources, under the Punjab government policy an official cannot retain an official residence after his retirement from service. A grace period of few months is, however, given.

Under the same policy, an official who is relieved of his duties in Punjab loses his or her entitlement of an official house if he gets a designated or any other official residence at the place of his or her posting in Islamabad or any other province.

The same policy is applicable on the police department.

According to police department record and sources, former Additional IG Muhammad Wasim is occupying a residence in Qurban Lines which was allotted to SSP Fayyaz. Mr Wasim retired from service around a year ago and he is reportedly occupying the house through paper possession which is not permitted under the law.

Former IGP Malik Muhammad Iqbal retired from service around one-and-a-half year ago. But he is living in a Tufail Road residence of the police department that was allotted to SSP Telecommunication Imran Ahmar. The occupation is again reportedly based on paper possession.

IB’s Joint Director for Punjab Khurshid Bukhari was given a designated house on GOR-I’s College Road but he is also occupying a residence in Chung police colony.

Railways IGP Syed Ibne Husain was given a designated house in Mayo Gardens but he is occupying a police department residence in Qurban Lines.

Balochistan IG Rao Amin Hashim was given a designated house in Quetta. But he too is retaining a department residence in Qurban Lines.

A top retired official Asif Nawaz Warraich retains a residence in Qurban Lines which was allotted to DIG Javaid Islam.