LHC stays govt move to convert Ishaq Dar's residence into shelter home

Lahore High Court seeks reply from Punjab govt within 10 days

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday issued a stay order against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s decision to convert former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s residence into a shelter home.

The relief was provided on a petition moved by Tabassum Dar that sought a stay order on auctioning off the state.

The petitioner maintained that the Punjab government violated the law and the Constitution by converting the house into a shelter home.

Furthermore, the petitioner claimed political victimisation of Dar for being a member of the opposition party – the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

The high court issued the stay order against changing the status of Dar’s residence and sought a reply from the provincial government within 10 days.

The sprawling residence of the former finance minister in a posh neighbourhood of Lahore was confiscated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over a reference about assets beyond means.

Ishaq Dar has been absconding court proceedings since 2017 following the registration of reference against him. Later, NAB confiscated his various bank accounts worth Rs500 million and his house, spread over four kanals and seven marlas in Gulberg, Lahore.