SC gives 15 days to courts for concluding illegal housing cases

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered all related courts on Tuesday to wind up cases pertaining to illegal occupation of government houses within 15 days.

“It is our job to evacuate government houses from illegitimate occupants,” the chief justice remarked.

Additional Attorney General informed the court that 197 government houses had been evacuated so far.

Moreover, the Supreme Court registry at Karachi while hearing the similar case of illicit residency in Sindh, directed concerned authorities to continue the process of evacuating government houses. The court ordered the secretary general administration to hear the petitions of residents occupying government quarters and instructed the state officer to wrap up the issue within 10 days.

The retired employees maintained before the court that they had been residing in these quarters for around 20 years. To which, the court responded “illegitimate occupation of a place even for 100 year does not turn it into a legalized accommodation.”

“Other than on-service employees, no one has the right to live in government residences,” the court remarked.

Deputy Attorney General submitted a report over the matter and apprised the court that final notices of evacuation had been issued to all residents.