Sanam Bhutto goes to court for Clifton plot

Benazir’s sister says she never gave anyone power of attorney

KARACHI: It appears that even Sanam Bhutto, the sister of the late Benazir Bhutto, has not been spared land encroachment. She has been forced to go to court after discovering that a plot Benazir gave her is being illegally occupied by someone called Farman Phulpoto from none other than Garhi Khuda Buksh Phulpoto.

According to Sanam’s lawyer Munir A Malik, she visited Pakistan in September and December 1996 and has since then remained out of the country. She maintains that the plot was given to her by her sister Benazir Bhutto. It measures 1,083.33 square yards and has the address of No. 164-D, Block 5, KDA Scheme 5, Clifton, Karachi. The plot was acquired from the original allottee, Gul Hassan.

When Sanam recently thought of selling the plot, she asked some friends to look for a prospective buyer and visit the plot to assess its present market value. During this exercise, it came to her knowledge that someone has encroached on the plot and constructed a boundary wall. A guard there said that the plot was ‘owned’ by someone called Farman Phulpoto.

Further investigations by Bhutto revealed that the title of the plot has been changed and transferred in the name of Farman Phulpoto (letter dated April 30, 2008 and issued by the City District Government Karachi). She maintains that the plot was transferred with the help of a forged and bogus power of attorney.

On Friday, when the case came up for hearing in the court of Justice Muhammad Tasnim, Sanam Bhutto’s lawyer submitted that she never executed any power of attorney in favour of anyone, including defendant Farman Ali Phulpoto, son of Sain Dad Phulpoto, resident of Garhi Khuda Buksh Phulpoto, Tapal Ghar, Ratodero, district and taluqa Larkana.

After hearing Munir A Malik, the judge ordered notices to be issued to Ameer Mustafa, the District Coordination Officer (DCO) of Karachi for February 3. He also allowed an application filed by Sanam Bhutto under Section 151 of the Civil Procedure Code, praying the court to direct an additional registrar of the SHC to obtain her thumb impression or fingerprints and keep them in safe custody for submission to a forensics expert.

She has also asked the court that until a decision is made in the instant suit, the defendants be restrained from creating third-party interest. Sanam said that she was due to leave Pakistan on January 29.

The bench allowed her request and directed her to appear before the additional registrar on January 28, 2011 (Saturday) at 11 am while the record will be kept by the Nazir of the SHC.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2011.