‘Four families grabbed 3,000 kanal of land’

Aggrieved citizens seek CJP’s intervention; people throng court

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar held hearings of cases pertaining to public interest at Supreme Court’s Lahore registry on Sunday.

Dozens of men and women asking for justice had gathered outside the Lahore registry of the top court and chanted slogans in favour of their demands.

Most of the people who protested outside the top court’s Lahore registry included victims of land disputes and those affected by encroachments.

Citizens affected by encroachment of land in the Thokar Niaz Baig neighbourhood also showed up at the court, claiming four families have encroached upon more than 3,000 kanal of land since the past 30 years.

The demonstrators said they had been visiting various government departments in search of justice for the past 20 years but to no avail. They also mentioned frequently visiting offices of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for the same but all their efforts were in vain.

They lamented no government official or authority paid heed to the issue which is why they are now presenting their case in front of the top judge. The affected parties said as their last resort they have gathered at the court, seeking the chief justice’s aid in retrieving the encroached upon land.



Meanwhile, another group of citizens protested against former MPA Bilal Mustafa Khar, son of former Punjab governer Mustafa Khar, who they accused of ruthlessly murdering a youth name Amjad.  The demonstrators included members of the bereaved family who belonging to the Kot Addu area of district Muzzaffargarh.

The protesters said they have come here in hope of swift and timely justice as they chanted strong slogans and alleged the then Punjab governor’s son Bilal Mustafa Khar killed their son Amjad in front of their eyes four and a half years ago.

“We have been struggling here and there for justice for over four years. No one is listening to us,” they lamented requesting the chief justice to ensure justice for them.

Given the large number of citizens gathered outside the court before arrival of the top judge, the police had ensured tight security arrangements for the day.

In addition to police, teams from anti-riots force had also been deployed at the Lahore registry while a large number of lady police officers had also been stationed. The administration at top court’s Lahore registry had affixed banners to close up the route from GPO Chowk to Jain Mandir. In addition, law enforcement had also deployed security personnel at GPO building, postal life insurance office and Aukaf office.