SC to hear Pakpattan land case against Nawaz Sharif today

PAKPATTAN: The Supreme Court will resume hearing into Pakpattan shrine land case against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The top court on Dec 13 constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the illegal transfer of a piece of land belonging to the Auqaf department in Punjab’s Pakpattan district in 1985. Nawaz Sharif was the chief minister of Punjab at that time.

On Dec 27, the chief of Nacta declined to head a JIT to probe into former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s role as Punjab chief minister in illegal transfer of 14,394 kanals of Auqaf land some 30 years back.

Khalid Dad cited personal reasons behind his inability to undertake the key task.

“Khaliq Dad’s excuse is based on the truth. He can’t be forced. The Supreme Court bench is satisfied with him,” Justice Nisar remarked while accepting his plea.

During the hearing on Dec 13, the chief justice remarked that as per the documents available on record, Nawaz Sharif in his capacity as Punjab chief minister allotted the Auqaf Department’s land back then, but now he said he didn’t remember.

In the last hearing, the former premier said he had not de-notified the property, the CJP observed and asked what would be the consequences if his claim proved wrong.