Kora Khan Trust SC seeks report about pending cases

The first-ever uneducated philanthropist of the sub-continent, Sardar Kora Khan Jatoi Baloch donated a chunk of fertile land (3,458 acres) in 1894, located in the delta of five rivers in districts Muzaffargarh, Rahimyar Khan and Rajanpur, for social welfare and development in the vicinities but people at the helm of affairs have been swallowing the income of the land, one way or another, for last 122 years.
The fact was revealed when a two-member bench comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh resumed the hearing of complaint of Muzaffar Hussain Khan and Mansoor Ahmed Shah advocates regarding mismanagement of the Waqf property in Muzaffargarh.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked the Punjab government to form a committee for the demarcation of the trust land and ensure vacation of the encroached property by developing mechanism for effective control and management of the property. During the course of proceedings, Additional Advocate General Punjab Razzaq A Mirza while submitting the report in the matter before the bench apprised that superintendent of the Sardar Kora Khan Jatoi Trust property was apprehended for embezzling Rs 500 million.
The report disclosed that agriculture land was leased on a throwaway price of Rs 4000 per acre for a year to which Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh expressed dismay observing as to why the people involved in the embezzlement should not be sent behind the bars.
The court was told that a number of government buildings including the judicial complex were also erected on the said land to which the bench observed how justice would be administrated there. However, the court issued directives to the concerned presiding officer to pay rent of the building.
Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh remarked if Punjab government is unable to control the trust and manage the land for its dedicated purpose that it should outsource the land, adding income of the fertile agriculture land is swallowed by the concerned tehsildar and district co-ordination officer. The bench issued directives to the Anti-Corruption Presiding officer of the Muzaffargarh to furnish a report about pending cases relating to Kora Khan Trust during the next date of hearing of the matter whereas the district coordination officer Muzaffargarh has been ordered to get the property vacated from encroachers and submit a report before the apex court on January 05.