Rights of NAECHS allottees: Parliamentary panel calls for action against usurpers

A parliamentary panel on Monday called for action against all those who have been usurping the rights of allottees of National Assembly Employees Cooperative Housing Society (NAECHS).

A sub-committee of Senate Functional Committee on Government Assurances, chaired by Senator Fida Muhammad, said a thorough probe into irregularities in NAECHS should be carried out 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. 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.

The NAECHS was directed to provide a complete authentic list of allottees so that sequence of precedence may be determined. Swati also asserted that no project must commence without getting the layout plan (LOP) approved from CDA.

The allottees present in the meeting requested the chair that compaction work of plots, where possession has already been given, may be carried out so that construction work may begin. The convener of the committee 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 as 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 the LOP by CDA.

The CDA informed the committee that LOP was cancelled because land for park and graveyard was converted into commercial plots. The convener of the committee stressed the need for an internal inquiry 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 is 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 it seems there is internal involvement and it must be investigated thoroughly. He added that details of court references must be presented to the committee as well.

The committee directed that complete investigation of the case be 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.