Rangers to be called in if police officers don’t vacate illegally occupied homes: CJP

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar on Wednesday remarked that the rangers will be called in if illegally occupied official residences in federal capital are not evacuated by police officials within a month.

The bench comprising two members was hearing the case when the Additional Attorney General (AAG) Syed Nayyar Rizvi mentioned before the court that 140 flats in Sector G-6 of Islamabad had been illegally occupied by police officials for residence.

“The rent worth Rs 350 million has not been paid yet by the officers,” the AAG stated.

Secretary Housing and Works Dr Imran Zeb Khan informed the bench that the department has been unable to evacuate the occupants due to shortage of manpower.

The AAG informed the bench that the electricity and gas supply of the said residences were disconnected on the orders of Islamabad High Court.” However, the Supreme Court’s [evacuation] orders are yet to be implemented five years after they were issued,” Rizvi added

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jan Muhammad was also present during the hearing after being summoned earlier by the apex court.

Pointing at IGP, CJP  observed “The IGP was responsible for the implementation of the Supreme Court’s order to evacuate the government residences.”

The top judge lamented that the illegal possession of the cited government residences was unfair to those who were eligible for the allotment on merit basis.

While ordering the housing secretary and Islamabad IGP to decide about the process of evacuation of the government flats, CJP gave the deadline of more than a month to the illegitimate occupants of the flats.

The bench then adjourned the hearing till August 31.