LOWER DIR: Veteran politician and former minister Khawaja Mohammad Khan Hoti on Thursday said that he would take legal action against “unauthorised” sellers and purchasers of the land left behind by former Dir nawab Shah Jehan Khan.

Mr Hoti told reporters at the Timergara Press Club that her mother was the real daughter of the nawab of Dir, so she had the legal right to his property. Nawabzadi Bacha Sultana’s husband Mohammad Zahir Shah Khan, grandson of the late Nawazada Mohammad Nawaz Khan, and the son of Sher Shah Khan were also present on the occasion.

Mr Hoti claimed that the Peshawar High Court had issued a stay order in the case, which had been heard for years due to the “delaying tactics” of respondents.

“We had filed a case against other legal heirs of Dir nawab when my mother was alive. She’d a share in the property,” he said.

The former minister said that there were reports that some land grabbers were “selling and purchasing” the said land.

He warned those people of legal action, insisting they’re committing a contempt of court.

Mohammad Zahir Shah, the legal attorney for four daughters and one son, said the nawab of Dir left behind a total of 143,856 kanals of land from Chakdara to Lowari Top and out of it, 39,960 kanals were donated to the state, with Mr Hoti’s mother having the right to get her share in the rest.

He asked residents not to purchase the “disputed” land.

Meanwhile, Jandol Dispute Resolution Council chairmanFazal Jan and other members on Thursday highlighted their one-year performance, saying the forum received 117 applications from the people and decided 63 of them.

They added that 39 decisions were sent to the court for orders, while decisions on 15 applications were still pending.

The DRC chairman said that 23 disputes, pending since last year, had been resolved with the help of committee members.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2024