RAWALPINDI: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday stopped Punjab government from auctioning about 400 kanal land in Jhelum for commercial purposes.

The land was primarily acquired for the welfare of retired army personnel some 50 years ago Justice Sagheer Ahmed Qadri of the LHC’s Rawalpindi bench stopped Punjab Privatization Board from auctioning the land till the final outcome of the petition filed by Rehim Dad, a resident of Jhelum, whose land was acquired by the provincial government.

The court also issued notices to chief secretary Punjab, secretary PPB, controller land acquisition Jhelum, general manager Alliance Textile Mills private limited and director general Fauji Foundation and put off the hearing till October 11.

The petitioner, who claimed to have 110 kanal land, moved the court saying the Punjab government could not auction the 400 kanal land out of 990 kanal acquired in 1952 for construction of Fauji Textile Mills. Under the acquisition law if the specific purpose of acquirement is not fulfilled the government was bound to return the land to original owners.

The petitioner said in violation of relevant laws the Fauji Foundation sold the land and machinery to Alliance Textiles in 1983 and the real owners obtained stay orders form the competent court of law besides moving applications to the authorities concerned for return of the land.

As the case was still pending in the court the provincial government purchased back 80 kanal of the total land and advertised on September 8 that 400 kanal would be auctioned on October 28. Rest of 320 kanals is owned by Alliance Mills.

The petitioner has prayed to the court to declare the auction process illegal and direct the authorities to return the land to the original owners from whom the land was acquired by the government as it was not being used for welfare purposes. —Our Reporter