Islamabad: 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 emergency basis to sort the issue. He also instructed the secretary to conduct audits of one or two housing societies.
