Senate panel directed to facilitate NA employees in relevant housing society

Abdullah Malik

ISLAMABAD: Senator Fida Muhammad, Convenor of the sub-Committee of the Senate Functional Committee on Government Assurances, in a meeting on Monday, called for action against all those who have been usurping the rights of allottees of the National Assembly Employees Cooperative Housing Society (NAECHS). He asserted that in view of irregularities that have been committed an in-depth inquiry must be held and a report must be submitted to the Committee within 15 days. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, M. Ashfaq Ghumman was directed to oversee the matter. Convened by Senator Fida Muhammad Khan, the meeting was attended by the Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Senator Azam Khan Swati, Senator Abida Muhammad Azeem, Senator Prof. Dr. Mehr Taj Roghani and senior officers from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, CDA and Islamabad District Administration, National Assembly Employees Cooperative Housing Society (NAECHS) along with all concerned. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Senator Azam Khan Swati, recommended that strong directions must go out from this forum that original allottees must be facilitated on priority, as there are numerous people who have been destroyed due to this injustice.

NAECHS was directed to provide a complete, authentic list of allottees so that sequence of precedence may be determined. He also asserted that no project must commence without an LOP from CDA. Allottees present in the meeting requested the Chair that compaction work of plots may be carried out that have already been given possession, so that construction work may begin.

The Convenor took serious notice of non-implementation of directions given in previous meetings. He said that NAECHS had promised to submit documentation within a week, a commitment that has not been honored till-date. He inquired about the reasons for this lax and pronounced these delaying tactics, to avoid those involved being taken to task. He also took strong notice of lack of progress of work to provide gas and electricity connections in the area. The Committee was informed that gas and electricity work was delayed due to cancellation of LOP by CDA. CDA, informed he Committee that LOP was cancelled due to land for park and grave yard being converted into commercial plots.

The Convener of the Committee stressed the need for an internal enquiry and that a list of those involved along with designations and violations committed must be submitted to the Committee. He asserted that to ensure that no such irregularities are committed in future, it was imperative that responsibility is fixed. While probing the matter it was revealed that land grabbing of developed plots took place, despite the presence of guards. The Committee asserted that this seemed like and internal involvement at work and must be investigated thoroughly. He added that details of court references must be presented to the Committee as well. The Committee directed that a complete investigation of the case is conducted and a report must be submitted to the Committee, within 15 days after which a decision will be taken whether or not this case is to be handed over to NAB or FIA.