Lahore High Court. PHOTO: LHC.GOV.PK
Singh had earlier been incarcerated after being allegedly involved in anti-state activities and for stoking communal strife. The counsel of the former PSGPC supremo told the bench that incumbent PSGPC President Sardar Sham Singh had gotten a case registered against his client for being involved in anti-state activities and spread religious hatred. Mastan’s counsel said the Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Siddiqueul Farooq and Sham Singh were hand in glove with the land mafia. He said they had illegally sold hundreds of kanals of land belonging to Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib to various realtors.
Mastan’s counsel said Sham Singh had framed Mastan and those associated with him at the behest of Farooq to punish them for taking a stand against the illegal sale of Gurdwara land. He requested the court to grant bail to his client.
The government’s counsel opposed the request saying that grave charges had been brought against Mastan. He said the charges were still being probed and granting bail to the petitioner would compromise proceedings.
The bench, headed by Justice Mazhar Iqbal Sidhu, observed that keeping Mastan incarcerated would not benefit the prosecution prima facie. Accepting his bail petition, the bench directed the petitioner to furnish Rs1 million-surety bonds.
Dozens of Mastan’s supporters were also present on the occasion. They also staged a protest demonstration against the ETPB chairman at Charing Cross where they demanded his resignation for pursuing an anti-Sikh agenda.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2016.
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