The Iraqi Commission of Integrity announced Monday the restoration of 1,376 properties that had been illegally acquired by powerful persons and parties, to state ownership.
The Commission confirmed it is also in the process of recovering another 6,000 properties, pending the response of concerned real estate departments.
There are more than 10,000 state owned properties that the Commission documented as illegally acquired by persons or parties in Iraq.
In a statement, the Commission said its efforts to restore state property and real estate are part of its mission to preserve public funds in accordance with the work of the Diwani Order Committee.
“The Diwani Order Committee is following up with the relevant real estate registration departments to restore 6,000 properties while it is investigating the rest of the properties whose fate is still unknown,” it said.
According to a source familiar with the file, the illegal acquisition of state properties was carried out, in most cases, through gangs and groups supported by influential parties.
The source told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Some state properties are seized by ordinary people who chose to reside in them as in the case of the slums spread in Baghdad and other governorates.”
Also, the source said other state-owned lands and properties were seized by armed factions, which have used them as their headquarters.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ali Allawi submitted his resignation on Tuesday during a cabinet meeting.
He did not disclose the reason for his decision.
Caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi accepted the resignation.
Some observers believe Allawi’s move is a precursor to his appointment as prime minister to form a new government.
However, economic analysts said his resignation could be linked to his failure to implement the Food Security Law, which was approved by parliament two months ago.
The bill allocates about $17 billion for staple food supplies, gas, electricity and payment of public servant salaries.
The Sadrist bloc, which first approved the law, later withdrew its support.
Allawi had faced difficulties in implementing the law, especially after independent MP Bassem Khashan filed a complaint before the Federal Supreme Court to challenge the bill.
