Rawalpindi: Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed on Monday approached the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the complete sealing of his Lal Haveli residence.
Earlier today, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) sealed seven units including two units of Lal Haveli and five adjoining units.
On behalf of the AML chief, Advocate Sardar Raziq Khan, while submitting the application, requested the court to conduct an urgent hearing, which was accepted. The hearing will be held today at 11 am.
Meanwhile, AML workers have reached the residential property and are raising slogans against the ETPB officials. The former interior minister will reach the mansion shortly.
The famous Lal Haveli, an old building in Bohar Bazar, is the political office of the AML leader – who insisted that he had received no notice from the ETPB.
Talking to JEE News, the former federal minister said that I was not present in the mansion, I was in Islamabad.
“They [the government] wanted to arrest me at night. Now they have resorted to thuggery.”
The former minister challenged the concerned authorities and said that if it is proved that we are not the owners of the property, then publicly hang us and disqualify us.
ETPB Deputy Commissioner Asif Khan along with a heavy contingent of police reached the property and sealed the two residential units. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team also reached the residence.
ETPB has written to the Deputy Commissioner, City Police Officer (CPO) and Director of FIA seeking their support.
Superintendent of Police (SP), FIA Director and Assistant Commissioner were also part of the operation.
According to the Deputy Commissioner, Rashid and his brother Sheikh Siddique have illegally occupied seven lands of the mansion.
DC Khan said he sent several notices to the AML chief and his brother before sealing the property.
He said that Sheikh Rasheed and his brothers failed to provide any authentic document or record. The court also dismissed Rashid’s plea for injunction, Rashid continued his speech.
ETPB sealed a total of seven units, including two units of Lal Haveli and five adjoining units.
PTI condemns ‘illegal terrorism’
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Secretary General Asad Umar condemned “illegal terrorism” and assured Rashid of full cooperation.
شیخ رشید پر دباؤ ڈالنے کے لئے حکومتی مشینری سے ان کے گھر پر حملہ کر کے توڑ پھوڑ کرنے کا منصوبہ بنایا جا رہا ہے. تحریک انصاف اس غیر قانونی دہشت گردی کی بھرپور مذمت کرتی ہے اور شیخ رشید کے ساتھ کھڑی ہے
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) January 29, 2023
“To put pressure on Rashid, the government planned to attack Lal Haveli and vandalize Rashid’s residence using state machinery,” he wrote on Twitter.
It should be noted that Lal Haveli – built on over six marla units – is owned by Rashid.
Today ETPB officials sealed four shops on the ground floor of the mansion. Rashid had set up an office in two shops while the other two were occupied by someone else.
The residential part inside Lal Haveli was not sealed. Apart from this, the property attached to Rashid’s brother’s mansion has also been sealed. It was built on three marla units.
On October 18 last year, a district and sessions court in Rawalpindi issued an injunction to the ETPB, temporarily halting the eviction of the structure after Rashid challenged the notice to vacate his residence. Instructed to stop.
The board also directed the AML chief and his brother to vacate the residence within seven days. However, the former minister challenged the notice in court.
