The Lahore High Court on Wednesday took exception to the Evacuee Trust Property Board chairman’s decision to seal Lal Haveli. “How can the ETPB chairman take any decision before being appointed? Why are we playing with the system?” the judged questioned in the Lal Haveli ownership case.
Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf heard the case in which applicant Sheikh Siddique’s counsel Sardar Abdur Razzaq Khan appeared. The judge remarked that the trust chairman had, prima facie, not taken action in a transparent manner.
The counsel said the day the chairman ordered that Lal Haveli should be sealed, he had not taken charge. The decision was taken on Oct 14 and the notification of chairman’s appointment came on Oct 18.
The judge asked how could the chairman take the decision before joining the office. “Why are we playing with the system,” he asked. The court asked the additional attorney general to take fresh directions and adjourned the case until Oct 30 as the ETPB lawyers failed to turn up.
