The Supreme Court on Thursday constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the role of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in nullifying a notification regarding selling of shrine land in 1985 to a private person. The committee shall comprise DIG Lahore Javed Khan Lak and officials of Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB). The JIT was directed to appear before the apex court on December 22 and submit its terms of reference (ToRs) for investigation into the matter.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, was hearing a case related to sale of shrine land in Pakpattan to a private person, Dewan Ghulam Qutab. Auqaf Department's land, measuring around 14,400 kanals in Pakpattan was given to an individual, Dewan Ghulam Qutab, in 1985-86 in violation of a Lahore High Court order by cancelling the earlier notification issued on 1969 declaring that the land was of Auqaf Department. The precious Auqaf land is situated around revered Sufi Saint Baba Faridud Din Ganjshakar's shrine in Pakpattan.
Barrister Zafarullah appearing on behalf of Nawaz Sharif said the former prime minister is grateful of the court for showing generosity, adding the ex-PM says that the court can appoint any agency for investigating the matter. During the last hearing (December 4), the Chief Justice told the former premier that there are Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the matter.
Nawaz Sharif had replied: "I don't object that the matter be probed but don't constitute JIT as I don't have good experience of it; therefore, kindly consider investigations from someone else." The Chief Justice, therefore, had granted the ex-PM one week time to apprise which investigative agency he wanted to probe the nullifying of notification regarding ownership of Pakpattan property. During the proceedings, Barrister Zafarullah said that according to the record available with the ex-PM, the then secretary Evacuee Trust Property proceeded to de-notify the earlier notification on his own.
The Chief Justice said, "If it is established that notification was issued with the consent of Nawaz Sharif then what offence it will constitute." Zafarullah said the matter is 32 years old, adding according to record, the then secretary Evacuee Trust/secretary Auqaf might have used his powers to de-notify the notification. The case was adjourned till January 22.
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