ISLAMABAD, May 15: Deputy Chairman Senate Sabir Ali Baloch has ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to conduct survey to identify all illegal occupants of Parliament Lodges to initiate an operation against them.

The order was issued during a meeting with Mr Baloch and deputy speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi in the chair.

The meeting discussed security arrangements in the lodges in the wake of seven theft incidents.

When contacted, Mr Kundi told Dawn that the direction was issued to remove encroachments in the lobbies and servant quarters of the lodges within 10 days. He said a report had also been sought about people living in the lobbies and servant quarters. Notices were also issued to get two facilities vacated within 10 days, Mr Kundi said, adding action would be taken against those involved in the encroachments.

Besides, the secretaries of National Assembly and Senate have already written to the legislators to identify the lodges allotted to them.

In this regard, a survey will also be conducted to pinpoint  illegal occupants, he added.

Sources close to the development said CDA would start the survey to identify illegal occupants after the next session of the parliament because at the moment most legislators were in their native towns.

However, the civic agency has been asked to collect details about the people living in the lodges and submit it to the NA and Senate secretaries.

The sources said the meeting also issued directives for installation of CCTV cameras in the lodges.

CDA Chairman Farkhand Iqbal, when contacted, said the meeting discussed deployment of policemen in lobbies and all floors of the lodges to avoid theft and other incidents.

He said some legislators had also set up cabins in the lobbies and other areas and were using them as offices, guestrooms and servant quarters.

There was a report that some ex-legislators were still occupying suites in the lodges and the CDA would identify them during the survey and recommend to the secretaries of the National Assembly and Senate to get them vacated.