LHC stays conversion of Ishaq Dar’s house into shelter home

Published February 10, 2020
Ishaq Dar's wife alleges the government of targeting PML-N leaders in what she said was "political revenge". AFP/File
Ishaq Dar's wife alleges the government of targeting PML-N leaders in what she said was "political revenge". AFP/File

The Lahore High Court (LHC) issued a stay order against the turning of former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s house into a shelter home in a hearing on Monday.

Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan also directed the provincial government to submit a response within 10 days.

According to petitioner Tabassum Ishaq Dar, wife of the former minister, the decision to turn Dar’s residence into a shelter home is illegal as the Islamabad High Court had already issued a stay order against auction of the same.

IHC had on Jan 29 issued a stay order against the auction of Dar's Lahore property and scheduled the next hearing of the case for Feb 13. In her petition, Dar's wife argued that the house cannot be auctioned off as it actually belonged to her. She claimed it was given to her by her husband as haq meher.

She further added that the government was targeting PML-N leaders in what she said was "political revenge".

Meanwhile, president of PML-N and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif condemned the move to turn Dar’s house into a shelter and food bank, saying: “Ishaq Dar has served the nation and these backhanded tactics cannot detract from his services.”

Shehbaz said the common man was worried about bread, employment and business while the “corrupt, inefficient and revengeful” government was busy avenging political opponents.

He further said taking over the homes of political opponents was a negative tradition and this move would not dampen PML-N’s spirits.

On Friday, the Punjab government had converted Dar’s home into a shelter which started functioning on Saturday.

The Lahore city district government had taken possession of the property last year on July 27 after the National Accountability Bureau seized all of his movable and immovable assets in connection with a corruption case. The property in question is built on a five-kanal plot in the Gulberg III area of Lahore.


Additional reporting by Adnan Sheikh.

Opinion

Editorial

A hasty retreat
Updated 28 Nov, 2024

A hasty retreat

Govt should not extend its campaign of violence against PTI and its leaders, thinking it now has the upper hand. Enough is enough.
Lebanon truce
28 Nov, 2024

Lebanon truce

WILL it hold? That is the question many in the Middle East and beyond will be asking after a 60-day ceasefire ...
MDR anomaly removed
28 Nov, 2024

MDR anomaly removed

THE State Bank’s decision to remove its minimum deposit rate requirement for conventional banks on deposits from...
Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...