Daily Times

The Supreme Court was on Tuesday informed that then chief minister of Punjab Nawaz Sharif ordered illegal transfer of land of the Pakpattan shrine in 1985, a private TV channel reported.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard a case pertaining to the transfer of 14,000 kanals of land of the Pakpattan shrine to Dewan Ghulam Qutab in 1985. Nawaz was chief minister of Punjab province when the land in question was transferred.

As the hearing started, Dr Hussain Asghar, the head of the joint investigation team (JIT) formed to probe to the case, submitted an inquiry report, which stated that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was chief minister of Punjab province at that time, had illegally transferred the land. “The first inquiry report submitted in 2015 held the then-chief minister responsible, however in 2016 another report was prepared and the then provincial chief minister’s name was removed from it,” the JIT head informed the court.

At this, the chief justice remarked, “That time is now over. A third report will not be prepared now.”

Dr Asghar further told the bench, “The land of Hujra Shah Muqeem and Hafiz Jamal shrines was also transferred by Nawaz during the same tenure in 1986.” The chief justice then asked, “Under which law did then chief minister Punjab take back the notification for the land which was donated? How was property that was donated sold?”

JIT chief tells SC land of Hujra Shah Muqeem and Hafiz Jamal shrines was also transferred by Nawaz during the same tenure

Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked, “District judge and the high court had ordered that the notification of the donated land cannot be withdrawn. Then under which law was the notification withdrawn?”

In reponse, Nawaz’s counsel, Munawar Dogal, said, “My client earlier denied withdrawing the notification.” To this, the chief justice said, “The inquiry report has come.” Addressing Nawaz’s counsel, the top judge said, “Don’t try to be overly loyal.” “What if we consider asking the anti-corruption department to file a case. If an investigation is conducted then no one will be spared,” he further remarked.

Dr Asghar further said, “Then secretary to the chief minister admitted that the notification was withdrawn on the chief minister’s directives. Nawaz’s former secretary has also been investigated. He’s now 75 years old,” he added.

The court then directed Nawaz Sharif and Punjab government to submit replies to the inquiry report within two weeks and adjourned the hearing of the case.

Published in Daily Times, January 16^th 2019.