SC questions building of shops on shrine land

Gives Sharif, Punjab CM in 1985, two weeks to submit reply


APP October 18, 2018
Gives Sharif, Punjab CM in 1985, two weeks to submit reply. PHOTO: FILE

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday directed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to submit a reply within two weeks in a suo moto notice pertaining to illegal construction of shops on Pakpattan shrine's land.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar sought reply from Sharif as he was the Punjab chief minister in 1985. The bench has asked the then chief minister how he could transfer a shrine's property to Dewan Ghulam Qutab, adding who gave such right to the CM.

The bench also questioned under what authority a CM could change a high court’s verdict. Moreover, CJP Nisar asked whether permission was given to build stores on the property and if yes, then under which law was the permission granted.

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Munawar Dughal, counsel for the then CM Sharif, requested to grant some time to submit reply in the case as he had just taken up the case.

The bench while granting time of two weeks adjourned further hearing of the case till second week of November. On previous hearing, Additional Advocate General Punjab informed the court that about 8,000 kanals land of the Pakpattan shrine belonging to the Auqaf Department was sold as per an order in 1985.

However, later on the Auqaf Department declared it a charitable endowment and a court judgement had also been passed in this regard, he added. Chief Justice remarked that "Supreme Court is the protector of the Constitution of Pakistan".

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