Spoils: A divided house

LAHORE:

An official residence has become the cause of an ugly stand-off between two Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz stalwarts. 

Sardar Sher Ali Khan Gorchani, the Punjab Assembly deputy speaker, arrived at the 2 Upper Mall house on June 3. He was accompanied by his family members and supporters. He was however told by guards that his predecessor, Rana Mashood, was in possession of the house.

When Mashood refused to vacate the house, Gorchani, forcibly occupied the annexe.

Sources say Mashood has categorically refused to vacate the house. They say the Punjab government too did not reply positively to Gorchani when he informed them about the development.

Sources in the Punjab Assembly and the Civil Secretariat say Gorchani threatened to use his tribesman to evict Mashood. The latter then responded by recruiting men from Bhati Gate and Bund Road to foil the threatened takeover.

They say Mashood, now education minister, says he should be allowed to go on living in the house. Gorchani, on the other hand, has vowed he would not vacate the annexe or move to another residence.

The house has been allotted to deputy speakers since Manzoor Mahal. MPA Sardar Atif Khan Mazari, who is close to Gorchani, says the deputy speaker expects the matter to be resolved soon.

Rana Mashood did not answer his phone when contacted for his side of the story.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2013.