ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) made 344 out-of-turn government accommodation allotments to its own employees between 2010 and 2015, a report submitted by the authority to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has revealed.

The report, which was submitted by CDA legal adviser Kashif Ali Malik during a court hearing regarding a dispute over the allotment of residential quarters, said that the authority relaxed its allotment rules for favoured employees and allocated them 344 government houses.

The report quoted a recent survey that said that the CDA managed 2,260 government accommodations in its pool, of which 165 houses meant for government officials have been rented to private individuals.

It also said that 68 houses have been rented out as complete units, while 97 have been rented partially.

In the report, the authority claimed that it has now started to allot government residences in accordance with the general waiting list, and the 140 most senior officials who have been given plots were at the top of the list.

According to the report, the survey was conducted by a committee consisting of the director general administration and directors of the administration, security, enforcement, maintenance, building control and structure directorates. After surveying government accommodation, the committee found irregularities in the process of allotting official residences.

The CDA submitted the report during the hearing of a case regarding a dispute between two employees. The matter was with the sessions court, which ruled that Tahir Javed was allowed to retain official accommodation. Defendant Amna Bibi then challenged the court order in the IHC. IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, during the hearing, had directed the CDA to submit the complete details of government accommodation allotments to employees of the authority.

He expressed displeasure over the out-of-turn allotments and renting of government accommodation to private individuals while genuine employees were kept waiting for their turn for decades, and directed the CDA to act in accordance with the rules and proceed against the violation of its allotment policy.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2018