The Supreme Court on Sunday directed Director General Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab to seize the sprawling Khokhar Palace, illegally built on 40 kanals of State land and present a report on the case within 10 days. A two member bench led by the chief justice resumed hearing a suo motu case at the Lahore registry against illegal occupation of the properties of LDA and individuals by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Afzal Khokhar, MPA Saiful Malook Khokhar and Shafi Khokhar. Khokhar brothers were also present in the court.

DG ACE submitted a report about assets of MNA, Afzal Khokhar and his brother Saiful Malook Khokhar to the Supreme Court as directed by the apex court during previous hearing of the land grabbing case. The court was informed about 22 encroachments on the land owned by the Lahore Development Authority. The Khokhar brothers grabbed at least 40 kanal government land, The Khokhar Palace is built on grabbed land, and both the co-accused have pre-arrest bails till the retirement date of the chief justice (18th January) as they believe that no one would take action against them after CJ Nisar's retirement.

The CJP observed I know of their intentions after my retirement. They have set a pattern of land grabbing. However the apex court won't let this lawlessness prevail in Pakistan, we are breaking the nexus. The Khokhar Palace should be evicted and cases be registered against land grabbers. We can make an academic institution at the recovered State property," he observed.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019