LAHORE: A sessions court has ordered police to record statement of a petitioner and register a land grab case against Punjab Local Government Minister Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and others if a cognizable offence is made out.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Hafiz Rizwan Aziz issued the order on the petition filed under section 22-A & 22-B of CrPC by Abid Ansar Khan of Allama Iqbal Town.

The petitioner, through a counsel, contended that he was doing construction on a one-kanal plot in Mustafa Town when Rasheed along with eight armed suspects allegedly tried to grab the property. He alleged that due to timely intervention of the notables of the area, the suspects fled from the scene but extended him life threats.

The petitioner also informed the court that a case was also pending before the Lahore High Court (LHC) regarding the property in question.

The sessions judge, in his written order, observed that the Mustafa Town SHO despite having been approached by the petitioner did not discharge his statutory duties stipulated under Section 154 of CrPC.

“Prima facie a cognizable offence is made out from the allegations of the petitioner against the proposed accused,” the judge noted and directed the SHO to record the statement of the petitioner verbatim and register an FIR in case of a cognizable offence and proceed further strictly in accordance with the law.

The judge has also ordered the SHO to arrest the accused only when he himself would be satisfied regarding the correctness of the allegations leveled by the petitioner against the suspects.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2021