SC asks Nawaz Sharif to appear in person in Pakpattan Auqaf land case

Khudayar Mohla
ISLAMABAD, (TLTP): While hearing a suo moto case over constructions at Pakpattan shrine’s land in 1985, the Supreme Court on Tuesday summoned former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to appear in person on December 04.
A three-member bench of the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar passed the order while counsel for the then Chief Minister Nawaz Sharif said that his client has nothing to do with an executive order of 1986 under which Auqaf Department Lahore returned a chunk of land to Sajada-Nashin of Shrine of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar.
During the course of proceedings, Barrister Munawar Iqbal Duggal, counsel for Sharif submitted a concise statement in the matter saying Nawaz Sharif has not signed any summery relating to returning the land to Sajada-Nashin of Shrine during his tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab. Duggal also requested the court to discharge Nawaz Sharif name from the notice which was served in the matter.
In response to Barrister Duggal that Nawaz Sharif has not signed any executive order, the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar examined Auqaf Department notification of 1986 under which the Department withdrew its earlier notification of 1971 in order to return the land to Dewan Ghulam Qutabud Din in pursuance of approval of the then Chief Minister.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar asked repeatedly from Duggal whether he was talking about the same Nawaz Sharif who remained three-time prime minister of the country that he didn’t sign any executive order in the current matter.
Responding to court query, Duggal submitted that he has submitted the concise statement with the consent of Nawaz Sharif. Duggal further requested the court for assistance in the current matter, however, the bench observed that the court has decided to ask directly from Nawaz Sharif whether he signed the executive order or not?.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed if Nawaz Sharif had not signed the executive order then someone has deceived him and it would be a case of forgery, adding the counsel for Nawaz Sharif has taken a risk to ruin his client’s political career.
Later, turning down the request for Sharif counsel about the withdrawal of his client name from the notice list, the bench asked Nawaz Sharif to appear in person before the court on December 04.