Pakpattan shrine land case: Nawaz illegally transferred land, SC told

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court was Tuesday informed that Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had illegally transferred the Pakpattan shrine land in 1985 when he was the Punjab chief minister.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, heard the case that pertains to the transfer of 14,000 kanal land of Pakpattan shrine to Dewan Ghulam Qutab.

As the hearing went under way, Dr Hussain Asghar, head of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe the case, submitted the inquiry report, reports Geo News. The report said Nawaz Sharif had illegally transferred the land. “The first inquiry report submitted in 2015 held the then-chief minister responsible; however, in 2016 another report was prepared and the then provincial chief minister’s name was removed from it,” the JIT head informed the court. At this, the chief justice remarked, “That time is now over. A third report will not be prepared.”

Dr Asghar further told the bench, “The land of Hujra Shah Muqeem and Hafiz Jamal shrine was also transferred by Nawaz during the same tenure.” Justice Nisar added, “The lands of these shrines were allotted in 1986.” The chief justice then asked under which law did then chief minister of Punjab take back the notification for the land which was donated. “How was the property that was donated sold?”

Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked, “The district judge and the high court had ordered that the notification of the donated land cannot be withdrawn. Then under which law was the notification withdrawn?”

In response, Nawaz’s counsel Munawar Dogal said, “My client earlier denied withdrawing the notification.” To this, the chief justice report, “The inquiry report has come.” Addressing Nawaz’s counsel, the top judge said, “Don’t try to be overly loyal.” Further, the chief justice remarked, “What if we consider asking the anti-corruption department to file a case. If an investigation is conducted then no one will be spared.” Dr Asghar further said, “The then secretary to the chief minister admitted that the notification was withdrawn on the chief minister’s directives.”

“Nawaz’s former secretary has also been investigated. He’s 75 years old,” he added. The court then directed Nawaz and the Punjab government to submit replies to the inquiry report within two weeks and adjourned the hearing of the case.