KP minister, DPO Swat lock horns over govt bungalow allotment

PESHAWAR: A dispute between Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam and District Police Officer (DPO) Swat Zahidullah Khan over the allotment of a government bungalow in University Town, Peshawar, has escalated, with both sides accusing each other of thrashing and mistreating their respective officials.

Aftab Alam said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Administration Department had allotted him the government bungalow (OJR-25) in University Town. However, when his office staff and officials from the KP Administration Department attempted to take possession, they were allegedly assaulted and detained by local police on the orders of the DPO Swat.

Answering a question about the bungalow’s previous allotment to DPO Swat in November 2023, Aftab Alam claimed that the allotment letter had been canceled by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration.

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DPO Swat Zahidullah Khan said that the bungalow was rightfully allotted to him by the KP Administration Department in November 2023. He alleged that his employees, sent to take possession of the bungalow, were assaulted on the instructions of the provincial law minister. However, Khan denied that the police tortured or arrested any of the minister’s employees.

KP Administration Department Secretary Asrar Khan, confirmed that the bungalow’s allotment to DPO Swat had been revoked since his family had already been allotted a government residence.

Sources said that high-ranking officials are now attempting to mediate between the provincial law minister and DPO Swat to resolve the issue.