Court directs IO to record stance of property claimant

A judge has directed an investigation officer (IO) of an FIR to record the version of a petitioner also and proceed strictly in accordance with the law in a property ownership case involving an elderly woman and the advocate general of Punjab (AGP).

The 88-year-old woman claims to be the owner since 2001 of the house measuring one kanal, 12 marla and 120 square feet that was vacated by the police.

AGP Ahmad Awais said the property is in the name of Dr Khurram Hanif who had given him the power of attorney. Civil litigation over the matter entered a new phase when Ahmad Awais, after getting vacated the house from Bilqees Begum’s grandson Ali Altaf Saleem, lodged an FIR against him, his father Altaf Saleem and others for allegedly occupying the property.

After that, Ali approached the police to register an FIR against Ahmad Awias, his son Hassnain Awais and 15 to 20 unknown people, alleging that they forced into the house and dispossessed him and the others from their legal possession at gunpoint.

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When the police refused to register the FIR, the applicant approached the district & sessions court where Additional District & Sessions Judge Mahmood Azam sought a report from the Gulberg police.

The police stated in their report that an FIR had already been registered against Ali and others, so another FIR could not be registered over the same occurrence. The judge directed the investigation officer (IO) of the registered FIR to record the version of the petitioner also and proceed strictly in accordance with the law.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Ali Altaf said Khurram, who had given the power of general attorney to AGP Awais, claimed to have purchased the land from Bilqees Begum and registered it with the sub-registrar of Saddar Cantt on August 20, 1980 that was incorporated in the record of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) through a letter dated December 23, 2020.

He said Hanif had filed a suit as late as the current year through his attorney, seeking partition of land. Ahmad Awais said the impression that he had occupied the land was incorrect. He said he had complete documents to establish that the property was in the name of Dr Khurram.

He said Khurram had been in litigation with his brother since 1987. The Supreme Court of Pakistan issued a decision in his favor in 2019 on a review petition. AGP Awais said they had been paying the taxes and utility bills of the house.