KP CM Orders Probe into Alleged Police Occupation of Nathiagali Rest House

The caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has initiated an inquiry into reports of the provincial police allegedly occupying a leased rest house in Nathiagali. This follows concerns raised about potential harassment and contractual violations by the police force.

The Chief Minister’s Secretariat has dispatched a letter to the Chairman of the Provincial Inspection Team, tasking them with investigating the alleged incidents of police occupation and infringement upon the rights outlined in the lease agreement for the rest house.

Furthermore, on January 16, the Federal Interior Ministry directed both the KP Police Chief and the Ministry of Tourism to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter and furnish a comprehensive report promptly. However, as of now, the KP Police Chief has yet to provide a report regarding the alleged occupation.

M/s Apical Ways Limited, the company managing the leased police rest house, has voiced serious reservations regarding a letter from the KP Culture and Tourism Authority. The letter demanded the company’s response within seven days regarding allegations of occupying additional land beyond the lease terms. The company expressed dismay over the timing of the notice, highlighting that no such objections were raised during the lease agreement’s signing.

Moreover, the company accused the KP Police Department of trespassing and unlawfully occupying annexes of the rest house. Instead of conducting an on-site assessment, the Tourism Department allegedly issued a notice without proper investigation, raising concerns about external influences on the decision-making process.

The leasing of government rest houses, including the one in Nathiagali, to a private company was completed in June 2021 after fulfilling all necessary formalities. However, alleged incidents of police intervention and attempts to occupy the property have marred the process.

RPO Haraza Muhammad Ijaz disclosed suspicions of the KP police regarding the company’s manipulation to occupy land beyond the lease terms. He asserted that investigations into the matter, including structural modifications and encroachments, are ongoing under the supervision of a judicial magistrate in Abbottabad.

The RPO further alleged collusion between the company and certain government officials in securing the lease, emphasizing the need for a transparent investigation into the matter.