KP police allegedly occupy leased out rest house in Nathiagali

ISLAMABAD: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have allegedly occupied the rest house in Nathiagali, which was leased out by the provincial Culture & Tourism Authority for tourism promotion.

Sources said that the company has written a letter to the KP government and departments concerned, including the Director General of Tourism Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture & Tourism Authority, for a formal inquiry regarding the illegal possession of the Police Rest House Nathiagali by the KP police.

KP Sports, Tourism, Archaeology, Museums, and Youth Affairs department, in June 2021, had leased out five government places, including the Police Rest House Nathiagali, for 15 years to a private company, after codal formalities.

According to the agreement, the lessee is obligated to use the premises exclusively for tourism promotion permitted in the bidding documents and subsequent lease agreement. Additionally, the lease amount is Rs6.4 million, with Rs24.4 million collected last year, per the agreement, annually, exclusive of government taxes.

Sources suggest that the lessee has written numerous letters to the KP government, especially concerning the department, regarding police harassment and interference in the police rest house Nathiagali.

They claim that Abbottabad police on December 29, 2023, once again entered their guest house, manhandled staff, and issued severe warnings. The KP Police Department is allegedly attempting to illegally occupy the property, with police officers and force illegally entering the premises over the last few months without permission in the presence of guest families.

In a letter to DG Tourism KP regarding handing over land to the Administration department, the company raised several questions, including why the police weren’t informed about the complete possession of the police house during the bidding survey by KPCTA officials.

The KPCTA letters dated December 28, 2023, mention an annex still under the possession of the Administration Department KP. The lessee questions how this aligns with the legal lease to Apical Ways.

The lessee also claims that the Police House, with 92.2 Marlas of covered area and attached lands, is a breach of Part B Clause 8 of the Rules of Business 1973, as mentioned in contract clause 21.

They question how an NOC can be issued for an illegally occupied area, given the substantial funds spent on the Kohsar Cottage retaining wall after receiving the NOC.

The continued illegal possession by the KPK Police Department is causing substantial financial loss and reputational damage to the company, causing distrust between the private and public sector relationship, and violating clause 6 of the lease agreement.

Sources mention that the company has discussed ownership of the 92.2 Marla of land with high-ups of the KP police on January 9, 2024, but their concerns have not been addressed, and no inquiry has been conducted so far.

On the other hand, the KP Culture and Tourism Authority, on December 28, 2023, has also written a letter to KP police on the land status of police rest house Nathiagali.

It was discussed between the Minister for Culture, Tourism, Archaeology, and Information KP and the IG KP police that the police rest house was transferred to the Tourism department on 19/01/2021, having 92 Marla land.

RPO Haraza Muhammad Ijaz told Hum News English that the Tourism Authorities’ letter dated on December 28 confirmed the suspicion of the KP police that the Company holding the lease of the rest house had manipulated to occupy almost double the land than the leased area. The total area of the police-owned land, as per revenue records, is 14 Kanals, while the lease granted was of 92 Marlas only.

When the party sent for measurement went to the spot, their unlawful occupation was confirmed, besides serious violations of the lease agreement, including structural modifications, demolitions, cutting of precious trees, etc. Inquiries were initiated under the supervision of Judicial Magistrate Abbottabad, which are underway.

It is also alleged that the company was awarded the lease through connivance with certain government officials, one of them occupying the most important position at Galliyat, whose brother-in-law sat at the back of the company, RPO Haraza claimed.