ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Pakistan Monday summoned Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) regarding selling of the evacuee properties.
A two-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed conducted hearing of the suo moto notice on destruction of a Hindu temple in Karak. The Chief Justice taking notice of the illegal selling of the evacuee properties summoned the DG FIA.
After the break when the DG FIA appeared before the bench, Justice Gulzar while addressing him said that the Sikhs, Hindus and other minorities’ properties are under the control of ETPB, and the Board has sold many properties out of that.
The Chief Justice remarked that the Board officials consider the evacuee properties as their personal belongings. He questioned that under what law the evacuee properties could be sold. He said that selling the evacuee properties is a violation of the law, but the Board members have sold the properties. The ETPB counsel acknowledged that the evacuee properties have been sold. At that the chief justice remarked that the objective for constituting the Board has been killed. He said that the Board has failed to fulfil its responsibility and asked the counsel to inform its chairman to appear before the court.
The counsel informed that the chairman is in Lahore, and sought time till today. About the construction of the temple, the Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa informed that the Hindu temple in Karak has been completed, and the provincial government is recovering money from the people who have attacked the temple. He said that out of 123 persons, who destroyed the temple, 23 persons have paid Rs3.1 million, adding the money has been deposited in the provincial exchequer.
The advocate general informed that pipelines have been laid for the supply of water to the people around the Hindu temple. He further said that the sewerage lines have also been laid.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Patron-in-Chief Hindu Council Ramesh Kumar informed that unknown persons have attacked him in Karachi. The Court took notice of the attack and directed the Inspector General of Police to submit the remarks regarding the matter and ensure that such incidents do not occur in future.