FIA directs ETPB to send notices to illegal occupants within seven days

LAHORE: To implement the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Karachi has asked management of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) to immediately send notices to illegal occupants of its multi-billion rupees properties in the port city of Karachi within seven days, Bol News has learnt.

According to sources, soon after orders of the apex court, FIA started a countrywide probe into the alleged irregularities pointed out by the Auditor General of Pakistan in its forensic audit of the ETPB. The audit has been conducted on the orders of SC.

Earlier, SC bench headed by Chief Justice Justice Gulzar Ahmad had given FIA a month to submit a preliminary report on the matter after an audit observed Rs 77 billion loss to ETPB for alleged irregularities.

In a joint meeting of officials of FIA Karachi and ETPB, Director FIA Karachi Amir Farooq has asked the Board’s Administrator to take actions within seven days to retrieve their prime properties from the illegal occupants.

The FIA Karachi has asked the ETPB to issue notice to Agha Khan Hospital as per an audit para.

Similarly, the ETPB has been directed to issue notice to Pakistan Sport Board as per audit para and also issue notice to deputy commissioner for immediate cancellation of allotments as per Supreme Court’s order.

The ETPB has further been directed to issue notice to the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) for immediate handing over land measuring 240 acres it had illegally occupied. Moreover, the Board has been directed to issue notice to KDA for Manghupir property given to the Authority to vacate it immediately.  “Letter be sent to the Deputy Commissioner for demarcation and police help as per supreme court of Pakistan’s order within seven days.”

According to FIA’s directions, the Board has been asked to issue notices for seven days to the defaulters and after expiry of seven days cancel the tenancy rights and seal it if they don’t pay their arrears.

Moreover, the FIA directed ETPB to issue notices to the occupants in possession of trust properties which have been declared as evacuee trust properties by the chairman. “If they do not become regular tenants and do not deposit government dues, seal the property.”

The FIA has further directed ETPB to file applications alongwith copy of Supreme Court’s order of early hearings for those cases pending for years in various courts including federal secretary, high court, with a request to dispose of the cases so that the properties are retrieved as per apex court’s directions.

The Board has further been directed to issue notices for Guru Mandir property occupied by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). “Issue final notice to income tax department for vacation of property as per supreme court of Pakistan’s order within seven days.”

On the other hand, FIA directed management of ETPB to give notices to all those occupants of Katchi Abadis to vacate its properties as per Supreme Court’s order within seven days.

The ETPB Administrator of Karachi Muhammad Javaid has written a letter on December 02 to all its field offices in Karachi to take actions by tomorrow (Friday) as per directions of the FIA’s director.