News Desk |
Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday, 4th December, suggested that ousted premier Nawaz Sharif should suggest which institution should investigate the charges against him of the 1986 illegal allotment of Auqaf property attached to a Pakpattan shrine after the PML-N Chief expressed his concerns over being probed by a joint investigation team (JIT).
“Let’s form a joint investigation team (JIT),” the chief justice suggested. “Mian Sahab is wary of joint investigation teams,” he added. “My experience with JITs has not been good,” Sharif responded. “Make something other than a JIT.” “We do have to be probe the matter,” the chief justice reminded the ousted premier. “The reputation of the former two-time chief minister and three-time prime minister must be cleared.”
Justice Nisar then asked Sharif if he would like to be briefed on the background of the case, and went onto explain that the claimants of the Auqaf property had petitioned the court.
“Let’s make you the judge then,” Justice Nisar commented. “You can look into it and tell us within a week which institution should be called upon to investigate the matter.” The chief justice also commented on the size of the entourage that accompanied the PML-N supremo to court and said that the ousted prime minister does not need to be present in court in the next hearing.
“His lawyer can present his arguments,” the chief justice said, adjourning the case for one week. As the hearing convened, the CJP asked about the whereabouts of Sharif, who then proceeded to the rostrum.
“What is your opinion of your written stance on the matter?” the judge asked him, to which Sharif replied: “This is a 32-year-old incident. I don’t remember any such order being passed.” Justice Nisar then asked Sharif if he would like to be briefed on the background of the case, and went onto explain that the claimants of the Auqaf property had petitioned the court.
Read more: Shrines under the watchful eye: CJP orders forensic audit
“The high court also said the land belongs to the Auqaf department. But you allotted the land to a private owner in violation of the high court’s decision,” the top judge added. “If you did not hand over the Auqaf land to a private owner, you will be cleared of all charges.”
In October 2018, the top court issued a notice to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Nawaz Sharif in a Suo Motu matter related to the allotment of 1800 kanals of Auqaf land around Pakpattan shrine to an individual in 1985 in violation of a high court order, GVS earlier reported.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had earlier directed the former prime minister to appear before the court today to explain his position in the case.
The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar also issued the public notice to 8,200 individuals who purchased hundreds of allotted kanals land to Dewan Moudood Masud by Nawaz Sharif, who was then serving as the Punjab Chief Minister.
The details of the allegations are that while holding the chief minister of Punjab’s office in 1986, Nawaz Sharif ordered the withdrawal of a notification of Dec 17, 1969, and allegedly allotted huge lands of Auqaf around Pakpattan to Dewan Ghulam Qutab in violation of the high court order.
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A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had earlier directed the former prime minister to appear before the court today to explain his position in the case.