LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday disposed of an application of film actress Babra Sharif after the tenant of her MM Alam Road property presented cheques for the withheld amount of rent.

Ms Sharif had complained that she rented out her property to retired Col Ghulam Ali Zahid, who established a franchise of D’damas jewellery there. However, she said, the tenant stopped paying the rent in November 2017, shifted the business and locked her property.

On the other side, Mr Zahid stated that he stopped paying the rent after the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) sealed the property for being a defaulter on commercialisation fee. He said Ms Sharif had not paid Rs2.9 million to the LDA on account of commercialisation fee. He said sealing of the property caused a great loss to his business and he was forced to shift his jewellery outlet. He pointed out that the rent amount for three months had been deposited in the court of rent controller after Ms Sharif filed a recovery suit.

Chief Justice Nisar directed the tenant to immediately pay the withheld rent amount of the last seven months to Babra Sharif and also directed the actress to deposit commercialisation fee of the LDA.

Asks actress to deposit commercialisation fee

In case the LDA sealed the property again for fee default, the chief justice observed the tenant would be free to withhold the rent. As both parties reached a settlement, the chief justice disposed of the matter.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2018