ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works met here under the chair of Senator Dr. Muhammad Ali Brohi to discuss the alleged land scam issue in Karachi mounting Rs 450 billion. According to a press release, the committee also paid attention to media reports in which the former Housing Minister Syed Safwanullah was implicated and termed them malicious and scandalous.

Senator Rehmatullah Khan Kakar, also Federal Minister for Housing & Works informed the committee that it arose in 1988 in the wake of politically motivated statements of the government and leaders of leading political parties that government servants occupying government-owned quarters for the last 30-40 years would be granted ownership rights of these properties.

He said a summary was moved to the prime minister by the Ministry of Housing and Works for seeking orders in this regard, which was twice turned down.

Replying to a question, the minister said IMF and other financial institutions advised the government to initiate projects for new constructions to meet shortage of government owned houses.

The interim government, he said, took cognizance of the alleged scam regarding Jamshed, Martin and Clayton quarters in Karachi and Estate officer was entrusted the task of probing into the alleged scam who finalized his report on February 20 last.

Kakar said the former minister has issued “Ownership Eligibility Certificates” to the residents of the government quarters in Karachi who had been occupying them for the last 30-40 years with the objective that in case the government, at any stage, initiates development on the land on which these quarters have been constructed, the old residents may not have to face any difficulty to secure their rehabilitation.

These certificates were issued by the then minister in good faith and on humanitarian grounds. They do not confer any right on the holder of these certificates for sale of the properties or making any transaction thereof. The residents of the quarters are regularly paying to the government prescribed rent of these quarters.

He disclosed that the Ministry has referred the matter to ministry for Law, Justice and Human Rights for advice.

The Minister admitted that the issue was wrongly portrayed in the press and suggested to the committee that malicious press reports should be discouraged.

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