IHC declares issuance of govt residences allotment letters ‘illegal’

Releasing a detailed verdict on the petition filed by Sumaira Siddiqui, a contractual employee, against the cancellation of allotment of a government residence in her name, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday declared the issuance of all ‘subject to vacancy’ allotment letters for getting an official residence in the federal capital ‘illegal’, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

During the hearing of the petition, the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) and the Ministry of Housing admitted that there was no provision for the issuance of such letters.

The verdict, penned down by Justice Babar Sattar, said that the federal government kept flouting accommodation rules while allotting official residences.

The IHC, on the occasion, also ordered the secretary housing to compile data of the civil servants who are on the general waiting list for getting these residences.  

The court directed the secretary to get data verified by the NADRA and the Establishment Division. 

He was also directed to ensure that updated waiting and accommodation lists be uploaded on the Ministry of Housing’s website within one month.

It was further said in the verdict that the secretary had given an undertaking that he would conduct a survey to ascertain the identity of the federal government employees who had given these residences on rent after getting these allotted in their names. “The secretary can take action against such persons as per law,” read the court’s decision. 

Reporter: Rozeena Ali