Supreme Court Decision on 6000 Illegal Housing Societies

The Federal Investigation Agency has submit its report against illegal housing societies in the country before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, with the count of illegal societies reaching 6,000. Out of these, 12 are located in Islamabad, 4,680 in Punjab, 967 in Sindh, 120 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 221 in Baluchistan.

According to the report submitted before the apex court, these societies have their offices in the respective societies and that is where they sell plots illegally. In addition to that, these societies also have WAPDA electricity connections issued to them as agriculture connections. These illegal housing schemes are marketed via electronic media and billboards.

FIA’s report also includes data on registered housing societies the count of which is 2,767. Among these 711 are being operated as cooperative housing societies. Sharing update on its forensic audit, FIA informed the Supreme Court that it has completed it for 701 schemes.

The Lahore High Court has ordered Lahore Development Authority to submit details on legal and illegal housing societies. The petitioner’s lawyer told the court that the societies are willing to pay for the water bills but these should first be given legal status.

Commenting on petitioner’s stance, Justice Akbar Ali Qureshi remarked that all societies will be brought into the net as that is the state’s ambit. He also said that the societies have been using water free of cost, which will no longer be allowed.

Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan has order the Government of Punjab to not register any more new housing societies, reported a news source. The SC’s full bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar also instructed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to complete the forensic audit of all housing schemes in the country. The FIA had earlier submitted its report on over 6,000 illegal housing societies in the country.

Hearing the case, for which the SC had taken a suo motu notice, CJP said that record of Punjab Cooperative Housing Societies was set on fire on purpose, while the rules were amended to facilitate the land mafia. He also said that land from poor people is being acquired and later sold at higher prices, where a single plot in private housing societies has 15 owners.

CJP was told that 60% land has been arranged for setting up office for Punjab Cooperative Societies. Punjab Cooperative Societies Secretary told CJP that much of the department’s record has been lost in fire incidents. To which the CJP said that the department needs to work on an emergency basis to sort the issue. He also instructed the secretary to conduct audits of one or two housing societies.