PESHAWAR –Employees of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Secretariat have broken their silence over what they describe as blatant irregularities, nepotism, and clear violations of official rules in the allotment of government residences.
In a detailed application addressed to Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, the employees have highlighted serious discrepancies that have reportedly persisted since 2021.
The complaint alleges that under the guise of “advance allotments,” several selected employees were granted residential units well before their eligibility, even though these houses are currently occupied by employees scheduled to retire between 2025 and 2030. In doing so, the 2018 allotment rules were allegedly violated to favour individuals who were either ineligible or already owned private residences in Peshawar.
Key Rule Violations Highlighted:
1. Violation of Rule 3(4): According to this provision, employees who own a personal or family residence in Peshawar are not eligible for government housing.However, dozens of such individuals were reportedly allotted quarters in direct contradiction of this rule.
2. Violation of Rule 9(3): This rule mandates that an annual “Waiting List” be published on the official website to ensure transparency. However, no such list has been made public over the past 3 to 4 years, leading to a complete erosion of trust among employees.
The petition calls for the immediate cancellation of all illegal advance allotments and demands that: An independent inquiry be conducted by a third party or the Governor/Chief Minister’s Inspection Team.
All ineligible allottees be evicted from government residences without delay.
Strict disciplinary action be initiated against those responsible, including Assistant Estate Officers, the Secretary Administration, and other officials involved.
The complainants further recommend a complete overhaul of the allotment system by transitioning it to a digital platform with the support of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board.They propose the development of a web portal where employees can submit applications, track allotment statuses, and view real time waiting lists.They also suggest integrating a blockchain based audit trail and automated SMS/email notification system to ensure complete transparency in the process.
An important legal point raised in the application refers to a Peshawar High Court ruling dated September 20, 2017, in which the Chief Justice had ordered the cancellation of all “out-of-turn” allotments. The petition notes with concern that this judicial order remains unimplemented to this day, which, according to the employees, constitutes a direct contempt of court.
The employees warn that failure to address these irregularities will not only erode public trust in the government system but also permanently deprive hard working and deserving employees of their rightful entitlements.They have urged the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary to take immediate notice and ensure the implementation of the proposed reforms.
