Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has sought a report on the dens of gambling and wine, allegedly established by some police officials in rest houses, situated in the federal capital.

The top court also ordered the sealing of public offices, situated in the residential areas of the capital except offices of the SAARC and the Federal Ombudsperson.

The apex court further summoned the Secretary Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) in the matter relating to the shifting of rest houses and educational institutions from the residential areas.

A three judge bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed on Tuesday took up three different petitions relating to the use of residential houses for commercial purposes as well as encroachments and road blocks created by the government offices, private residences and some embassies located in the residential sectors of Islamabad in the name of security.

During the course of hearing, the counsel for the Capital Development Authority (CDA) revealed to the court that the dens of gambling had been established at the rest houses of the federal capital adding that the civic body needed the help of the police for taking action against these illegal guest houses.

He further disclosed that some of the officials of Islamabad Police were involved in establishing dens of gambling at these rest houses He further said that liquor was easily available at 80 per cent of the rest houses.

The counsel for the Capital Development Authority further said that the civic body would soon launch a crackdown against the hospitals, situated in the residential areas for violating the law.

He however, pleaded the court that vacating the public offices by force in the residential areas would tarnish the image of governmental organisations. He informed the court that the Prime Minister Secretariat had given green a signal for vacating these offices.

Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed however, questioned as to why the government organisations took refugee behind the Prime Minister’s House saying the authorities should vacate the offices through coordination and not by the axe. The court adjourned further hearing till September 27.