Lahore, June 16: The tenants of the Hindu Waqf property in Lahore have appealed to the president and the prime minister to stop the Evacuee Trust Property Board from making them shelterless by enhancing the rent of their property by 2,000 per cent. In a statement issued here on Friday, the tenants of the Waqf property on Waris Road, Lawrence Road, The Mall and in Bansanwala Bazaar’s Rattan Chand Serai said they were served with notices in March indicating that from July 2006 the rent would be enhanced by about 2,000 per cent. They were asked to appear before the board deputy administrators to file their objections, otherwise, the proposed rent would be enforced.

They said they filed written objections but were not called for the hearings. Subsequently, they were again served with notices indicating that the proposed monthly rent had been imposed with effect from July 1.

They said this was an injustice to those whose elders had migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and settled in these places. As to how a person earning around Rs6,000 a month could pay a monthly rent of Rs20,000? they asked.

The tenants said the president and the prime minister must intervene and help the children of those who had left their homes and hearths for the new homeland.

Meanwhile, the tenants have decided to stage a demonstration in front of the Lahore Press Club on Saturday (today) to press for their demand.