FEDERAL Minister for Housing and Works Akram Khan Durrani made a startling disclosure that no house or flat was constructed by the present government for employees owing to a ban imposed in 1995 by thefederalcabinet onfresh constructionof accommodation. According to the minister, there was no funding for Apna Ghar scheme also.

Under the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002 read with Article 19A of the Constitution, the minister is requested to answer: is the cabinet authorised to annul the constitutional right to shelter? Why cannot Pakistan Housing Authority or the Federal Government Employees` Housing Foundation (FGEHF) allot plots or flats to all its eligible retiring officers like Defence Housing Authority? Why could Apna Ghar scheme not progress beyond paper registration with Securities and Exchange Commission? Haven`t the influential people, including ministers, preemptively bought land at throwaway price prior to being acquired by FGEHF under the Land Acquisition Act (to be subsequently sold at a prohibitive price)? Amjed Jaaved Rawalpindi Cantt