Dilip Kumar’s house case: Culture director, secretary’s salaries attached

PHC told officers have failed to submit their replies

PESHAWAR:

Salaries of the provincial culture director and secretary have been attached by the Peshawar High Court for failing to submit their replies in a case challenging the government’s decision to declare Bollywood film star Dilip Kumar’s house a national heritage.

A high court bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Musarrat Hilali issued the orders on Wednesday while hearing a petition filed by Haji Lal Muhammad through his counsel Shah Nawaz Khan.

The petitioner maintains he is the lawful owner of the five-marla house located in Mohallah Khudad. According to Haji Lal, he purchased the house from Muhammad Badshah and his wife Saeeda Khatoon on January 5, 2008 for Rs515,000.

The petition states, “The aforementioned house was initially in the ownership of Ghulam Mohyuddin alias Gul Jee who transferred the said property (deed number 123) on January 26, 1943 in lieu of Rs2,000 to Ghulam Sarwar who is the father of Yousaf Khan also known as Dilip Kumar.”

During Wednesday’s hearing, lawyer Khan told the court several orders had been issued to the culture director and secretary seeking their comments in the case but they have failed to respond.

Subsequently, the PHC attached the salaries of the two officers till its next order.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2015.