The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against three government officials for illegally occupying and renting out flats in the G-6 sector. The FIR was filed on the request of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) enforcement wing.
The official said the FIA would investigate the matter in detail, adding that more facts about the G-6 flats are expected to emerge during the inquiry.
Last week, CDA took possession of 26 flats in the G-6 building that were under illegal occupation. Out of a total of 200 flats, the authority recovered 26, while the remaining units are still occupied by illegal residents, most of them police personnel.
Sources said CDA had planned a large-scale operation in June, but it did not proceed as intended. In the first phase, the authority regained possession of 26 flats occupied by its own officials. Most of these occupants vacated voluntarily, while others were given additional time to leave in order to avoid a forced operation.
Asked why only CDA officials were targeted while flats occupied by police and other illegal residents remained untouched, CDA spokesperson Shahid Kiani said that after written orders for the operation were issued, occupants began vacating voluntarily, leading to a postponement of the operation. He added that action would be taken against those who do not vacate on their own.
CDA intends to recover possession of all 200 flats from illegal occupants. Following renovation, the units are to be auctioned in the open market, with the authority expecting revenue exceeding Rs8 billion from the project.
The flats were originally constructed near Aabpara Market and were meant to be handed over to the Ministry of Housing for allotment to government employees. Terms with the ministry had not been finalised when the 2005 earthquake struck, after which survivors and displaced persons were temporarily housed in the flats.
During the 2007 Lal Masjid operation, police officials began residing in the flats, and many government employees continue to occupy them to date. According to some officials, a number of flats were rented out by illegal occupants, which prompted CDA to have the FIR registered with the FIA.
The matter has previously been heard by the highest courts in the country. The Islamabad High Court ruled against the illegal occupation of the flats, and subsequent appeals filed before the Supreme Court were dismissed.
The court order stated that all appeals were allowed and the earlier order dated April 13, 2011 was set aside. It directed the Inspector General of Police and the Secretary of the Ministry of Interior to register criminal cases against all police department officials and employees who had illegally occupied the flats by force.
The court also directed the Inspector General of Police, Islamabad, to initiate departmental action against all occupants and submit a compliance report within one month.
