RAWALPINDI: The Head of Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rashid has challenged the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) to seal Lal Haveli in the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi bench.
Also read: Sheikh Rashid’s Lal Haveli sealed in Rawalpindi
In his petition filed on Monday, Sheikh Rashid contended that the matter of Lal Haveli was already in a court of law so the sealing operation was “politically” motivated. He took the ground that the action taken to seal his iconic Rawalpindi residence, Lal Haveli, by The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) was just a ruse and the that the true objective was to arrest him just like leaders of his allied Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf (PTI) in a bid to silence him.
Earlier, Sheikh Rashid told media that he had not received any notice from the Auqaf department and that he would take the matter to court.
Advocate Sardar Raziq Khan, on behalf of the AML chief, while submitting the plea urged the court to hold an urgent hearing which was accepted.
Talking to media, the AML Chief said that he was the true owner of the property, contrary to claims of ETPB which stated that neither Ahmed nor his sister could produce documents which cemented their claim to the property.
“Lal Haveli is my property, and if Lal Haveli is not my personal property, then hang me on the square [chowk],” he declared, adding, “The authorities are trying to divert the public’s attention from the real issues.”
He went on to say that a case pertaining to the ownership of the Lal Haveli is already fixed for hearing on February 15 and contended that the action to seal the property as illegal until the outcome of the court hearings is clear.
