PHC directs NAB KP chief to vacate house within two months

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday directed the Director General National Accountability Bureau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (NAB-KP), to vacate the provincial government’s house at Race Course Garden Colony within two months.
A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Irshad Qaisar issued directives to the NAB-KP chief after the estate officer submitted a report about the government houses allotted to grade 20 and above officers at the Race Course Garden. As per the report, the director general had illegally occupied the house.
The bench was hearing the NAB DG writ petition filed against the provincial government notification asking him to vacate the house. The estate officer informed the bench that the official residence was for the provincial government grade 20 and above employees. He said that on the request of the former DG of NAB-KP, the provincial government in 2000 gave the residence on temporary basis.
He said that the government had constructed colony for the NAB officers in Hayatabad, including a house for the DG. He said that when he issued notice for vacating the house, the NAB DG then started harassing him.
The deputy prosecutor general NAB-KP, Muhammad Jamil Khan said that the DG was going to vacate the house and sought two months for the vacation.Earlier, the NAB prosecutor had stated that the provincial government had issued notice to the NAB chief to vacate the official residence.
He stated that the residence had been allotted to the DG NAB-KP and former DGs also stayed in the house. About allotment of houses to advisor to chief minister and provincial law minister in the colony, deputy secretary Establishment Department said that Amjad Afridi, advisor to the chief minister, was entitled as his status is equal to the provincial minister and Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi is a law minister.
However, he said that Lal Khan, DG Audit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, had illegally occupied the house and notice was issued to him for vacating the house. The court also questioned allotment of house to Azmat Hanif Orkazai after his re-employment as chief of Right to Services Commission.
The bench directed the Estate Office to provide complete record of other officers with designations and departments, who are residing in the Race Course Garden Colony. About the stay of one officer Khalid Pervez in the house shen he was transferred to Islamabad, the additional advocate general Qaisar Ali Shah informed the bench that as per policy after transfer, the officer can reside in the house for one year.