Minorities property worth Rs27b recovered, SC told

HRCP head seeks court's help to push provincial govts to cooperate, release asset details

ISLAMABAD:

Head of the Minority Rights Commission Shoaib Sadal on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that until now property belonging to minorities worth Rs27 billion had been recovered from illegal possession.

Sadal also told the two-judge bench headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan that the provincial governments were not cooperating with the Commission regarding the details of assets.

He requested the apex court to direct the provincial governments and their police chiefs in that regard.

Sadal informed the bench, which was hearing a suo motu case regarding the rights of minorities, that the Commission had also submitted its reply to the court.

Justice Ahsan remarked that the court would hear the answers of all respondents together.

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) lawyer Hafiz Ahsan Ahmed said that several assets of the ETPB had been illegally occupied in various cities, which could not be retrieved despite many attempts.

Representative of Hindu Council Dr Ramesh Kumar alleged that the ETPB was showing a “dhram shala” as a commercial property.

A detailed report about the property of Auqaf Department was also submitted to the bench.

The case was subsequently adjourned for an indefinite time.