Govt told to clarify ETPB chief’s appointment

IHC grants govt four weeks to file reply

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: The federal government has been given a month to clarify its stance over the appointment of the Evacuee Trust Property Board chairman.

This was directed by a bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah.

While hearing an application filed by Major General (retired) Muhammad Saad Khattak on Thursday, the government lawyer pleaded the court to allow him time to submit a clarification.

The judge then granted the government four weeks to file its reply.

LHC admits petition on land auction

Lahore High Court- Rawalpindi Bench on Thursday admitted a petition against the auction of expensive and valuable lands across the country.

The court has sought replies from the defence ministry and the government in a week. The petition had been filed by lawyer Inamur Raheem, who raised concerns over the auction of valuable lands. The case was presided over by Justice Mehmood.

Man sentenced to life

A man was sentenced to life in prison while warrants of arrest for another suspect were issued. The court acquitted six others after granting them the benefit of the doubt.

District and Session Judge-East Chaudhry Mumtaz Hussain pronounced the verdict in a double murder case.

Shahid Mehmood was sentenced to life in prison while he was directed to pay a fine of Rs500,000 and a further Rs200,000 for damages. Warrants were issued for another suspect Aftab.

Some eight suspects, including Shahid, Aftab, Nasir and others were allegedly involved in attacking four men, killing watchman Muhammad Rafiq and Muhammad Younus and injuring Israr Ahmed and Ghulam Safeer within the remits of the Nilore police station in 2013.

Later, Younus’s family had a settlement with the suspects.

Two acquitted of drug smuggling

District and Session Judge Sohail Nasir on Thursday acquitted two suspects in two separate cases of drug smuggling.

Suspects Aizaz Ali and Arif Khan, were accused of carrying 420 grammes and 570 grammes of heroin respectively.

After hearing arguments from both sides and reviewing the evidence presented, the court decided the case.

Judge Nasir remarked that further proceedings would waste the suspects’ time.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2019.