PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday directed the deputy commissioner (DC), Peshawar, to resolve the longstanding issue of non-allotment of plots in the Regi Model Town housing scheme and ensure that affectees were given possession
The court also sought a progress report within one month.The case was heard by a two-member bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Farah Jamshed.During the hearing, the Deputy Commissioners of Peshawar and Khyber, counsel for the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA), and lawyers for the petitioners appeared before the court.
The petitioners’ counsel informed the court that the provincial government launched the Regi Model Town project in 1991, and both government employees and private citizens purchased plots. However, even after 36 years, plot owners have not been given possession in Phase-III and Phase-IV.
He added that while houses had already been constructed in Phases I, II, and V, the delay in Phases III and IV was due to a land dispute between the government and the Kukikhel tribe, which remained unresolved for decades.
Justice Sahibzada Asadullah questioned the authorities about progress since the last hearing. The DC Peshawar told the court that the disputed zone lay between Peshawar and Khyber districts and that the Kukikhel tribe had refused to hand over the land.
He said that negotiations were going on through a jirga, and demarcation would be carried out after a final decision was reached.The affectees told the court that they should either be refunded or provided plots elsewhere. In response, Justice Asadullah remarked that legal avenues must be followed and urged patience, assuring that they would eventually receive their plots.The court directed the DC Peshawar to resolve the issue on an urgent basis and adjourned the hearing after seeking a detailed report from the authorities within one month.
