Brit Pak businessman appeals to Pakistani authorities for justice, investigation

LONDON: A British Pakistani businessman has appealed to chief minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and other relevant authorities for justice, claiming that an influential former Tehsildar-turned-politician has fraudulently occupied his expensive property in Rawalpindi after changing the land registry records secretly.

Aftab Hussain of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, has alleged that a former Tehsildar of revenue department Rawalpindi Chaudhary Muhammad Asghar fraudulently transferred the 66% share of his property on his own name vide sale deed no. 1014, dated 14-02-2013 Sub Registrar (U-1) Rawalpindi.

Chaudhary Muhammad Asghar is Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s leader in Rawalpindi District and he stood for elections in PP-14 (Rawalpindi-XIV). There is no suggestion that allegations of property grabbing against Mr Asghar, PTI’s Rawalpindi City President, have anything to do with the PTI leadership.

The British Pakistani businessman explains in his application to the Pakistani authorities that he, along with his father Haji Khadim Hussain and Sheikh Abdul Majeed (based in New York) purchased (in equal proportion) a commercial plot measuring 4 Kanals & 220 sq. ft situated at the main Murree Road, Near Rehmanabad, Rawalpindi, vide Sale Deed No. 196, Dated 10-01-2004, Sub Registrar Urban, Rawalpindi.

Aftab Hussain says that Chaudhary Muhammad Asghar, who was his father’s friend, convinced him to construct a commercial plaza upon the said plot and offered his assistance.

Aftab Hussain claims that he and his father instructed Muhammad Asghar to construct the plaza with the name of “Ashiyana Centre” at the said plot and paid “millions of Rupees” for its construction.

After the multi-storey plaza was built, Chaudhary Asghar rented out shops of the plaza and regularly sent rental income to Aftab Hussain and his brother.

Aftab Hussain told The News that he came to know about the fraud when he went to Pakistan in March this year to get the land registry records updated to his name after his father passed away. Aftab Hussain says he was unable to get the record done due to shortage of time but Chaudhary Muhammad Asghar promised that he will take care of the inheritance matter in a matter of few weeks but ended up transferring 66% share of the property on his own name – committing fraud against Aftab Hussain (33.3%), late Khadim Hussain (33.3%) and Sheikh Majeed (33.3%).

Aftab Hussain has written to the chief minister of Punjab and various other relevant forums requesting an investigation into the alleged fraud and transfer of the ownership to his name.

Aftab Hussain and Chaudhary Asghar have been involved in joint business projects in the UK. Land registry records available with this correspondent show that the PTI's Pindi leader is registered as owner of a property in East London and his family members are linked with several properties. UK Land Registry's Title Number EGL114263 shows that Chaudhary Asghar owns 36 Quebec Road, Ilford, London, IG1 4IT. The registers Owners category shows that Shahida Parveen (wife of Chaudhary Asghar) controls this property with Asghar’s nephew Imran Ayub (of 47 Chigwell Road, South Woodford, London, E18 1NG) and Chaudhary M. Asghar (of House no.27, School Road, f-7/1, Islamabad, Pakistan).

Land Registry records show that Mr Asghar owned 150 Wanstead Park Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 3TB until 2003 which was then transferred to a relative after an investigation was launched by the National Accountability Bureau.

Land Registry records show that Chaudhary Asghar also owns two fast food businesses in London: Roosters Villa on 326 Walworth Road and Chicken Villa on 53 Camden High Street.

When contacted for his version on his phone, Chauhdary Asghar said he was unable to speak but a family member of Mr Asghar from London contacted and explained background of the dispute. He confirmed that Mr Asghar has properties in London because “he comes from a wealthy family”. He said that the Mr Asghar “owned leases” of two businesses for business visa reasons. He was not aware whether Chaudhary Asghar had declared his properties in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) records.

He said that dispute between Mr Asghar and Aftab Hussain was of “family nature”.