TAXILA: The district administration of Attock on Saturday sealed a petrol pump and an adjacent building owned by former PML-N federal minister Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, declaring them “illegal construction.”

The former minister termed the action political victimisation by the ruling party to pressure the opposition.

The district administration along with officials of anti-corruption and revenue departments backed by a heavy contingent of police raided the petrol pump and adjacent building housing a private bank branch established on five kanal and 10 marla on GT Road near Lawrencepur and sealed it.

According to a handout issued by the district administration, the petrol pump was being operated illegally and the construction of the adjacent building was unauthorised.Addressing a press conference at his residence in Attock, the PML-N leader termed the action “political victimisation of the opponents” by the PTI government. He said properties owned by political rivals were being sealed across the country while those sitting in government with the PTI had become “untouchables”.

He said the property had been owned by him for many years and he had also declared it in his assets and was regularly paying taxes, including property tax.

He said the action was taken against him as he had been criticing the government for its poor performance, especially growing corruption at the grassroots level, unemployment, lawlessness and every growing inflation.

He said instead of addressing basic issues faced by the common man, the government was victimising its opponents to divert public attention.

He said he would take the matter to court to get justice against the government victimisation.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2021