PML-N MNA arrested from SC in land grabbing case

LAHORE: Police on Tuesday arrested Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Afzal Khokhar from the Supreme Court registry in Lahore for allegedly illegally occupying a piece of land in the provincial capital.

The Nawab Town police station registered a first information report (FIR) against the MNA on a complaint lodged by a British resident, Muhammad Ali Zafar.

The police arrested the MNA as he left the courtroom after appearing before a two-judge bench of the apex court in a case relating to alleged land grabbing by him and his brothers.

According to the FIR, a piece of land measuring 34 marla was purchased from a citizen, Tariq Mehmood, which Khokhar illegally occupied and constructed his residence, Khokhar Palace.

The complaint was registered with the police station on the directives of the apex court.

Meanwhile, officials from the Federal Investigation Agency and Anti-Corruption Establishment investigated Afzal Khokhar and his brother Saifullah Khokhar on the court premises.

FIA director Waqar Abbas, expressing dissatisfaction with their statement, informed the judges that both the brothers were hiding facts.

The SP Nawab Town said a case was registered against Afzal Khokhar for grabbing 48 acres of state land in Kasur. His brother Shafi Khokhar tendered an apology to the court over the issue.

“You will be pardoned when you will vacate and return the land of the poor and orphans you have grabbed,” said Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, who was heading the bench.

The bench summoned details of land grabbed by the Khokhar brothers and directed the authorities to remove encroachments from the above mentioned state land in Kasur.