ISLAMABAD: A former lawmaker and a former CDA chairman fought over a high-priced house in the city over the weekend but, strangely, a police offi cer got punished for that.

Police sources claim the top brass of the capital police suspended SHO Tanveer Abbasi of Golra Police Station overnight for the actions he took against the ex-PPP MNA Noor Alam Khan and ex-CDA chairman Farkhand Iqbal who claim the ownership of the multi-million-rupee house located in the National Police Foundation enclave in E-11/4.

Dawn was told that Inspector Abbasi registered a case on Saturday against the ex-MNA after investigations into a complaint, filed by Mr Farkhand Iqbal on July 13, proved his claim to the ownership right and that of Mr Noor Alam suspicious.

According to Mr Iqbal the politician, Noor Alam, and 10 other people had forged documents and were trying to get the house transferred in the name of Mr Alam. When investigating offi cer ASI Mohammad Khan visited the house on Sunday and took a watchman hired by Mr Alam for guarding the house to the Golra police station for questioning.

However, the same afternoon he received information that both claimants were quarrelling outside the house and he rushed there. When his efforts to calm them down failed, the police sources said, the investigating offi cer called SHO Abbasi who informed the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of the situation. On their direction, he asked ASI Khan to bring both of them to the police station.

There, Mr Farkhand Iqbal produced documents establishing his ownership of the house to the SDPO and SHO.

On the other hand, Mr Noor Alam told the police officers that he had purchased the house from one Mushtaq a year ago for Rs52.5million and produced an agreement with him to the effect. He said he gave the man cash and a car, worth Rs10 million together, and took possession of the house. Police inquiries, however, put the real worth of the house at Rs65 million.

“Mushtaq’s ownership, or any dealing with Mr Farkhand Iqbal regarding the house, is yet to be verifi ed from the National Police Foundation’s records,” the police sources said.

While the counter claims were being reviewed, orders came from some senior police offi cers let Mr Farkhand Iqbal and Noor Alam Khan go and both left the Golra police station.

Later, around 8:30pm on Sunday a police wireless message announced the suspension of SHO Tanveer Abbasi. An inquiry was also ordered against him and he was transferred to Rescue15.

Inspector Chaudhry Aslam has been appointed SHO Golra since. A criminal case was registered against Mr Farkhand Iqbal, his sons and employees on the complaint of Mr Noor Alam. Eight of the employees have been arrested for legal action.

Police sources said the charges fi led by the complainant relate to Pakistan Penal Code sections 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person), 448 (house-trespass), 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or for a shorter terms).

Mr Noor Alam was not available for comments. Calls and SMS messages made to his mobile phone went unattended while Mr Farkhand Iqbal confi rmed the dispute but was reluctant to share details.

Though Mr Iqbal complained to Golra police on July 13 that ex-MNA Noor Alam and 10 other people had forged documents and occupied his house, the police registered a formal case after investigations on July 25. Charges were framed in the case against Mr Noor Alam, Mushtaq and two other persons, under PPC sections 419, 420, 448, 452, 467, 468, 471, 506 and 511.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2015

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