RAWALPINDI: The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has sealed Lal Haveli, the residence of Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in the wee hours of Monday.
According to initial reports, the ETPB staff along with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and police personnel reached the residence of Sheikh Rashid and sealed it.
Officials sealed seven units of Lal Haveli. ETPB Deputy Administrator Asif Khan led the operation. According to the deputy administrator, Sheikh Rashid and his brother failed to provide any documents to establish ownership.
On the other hand, Sheikh Rashid said he had yet to receive any notice from the ETPB and that he would approach the Supreme Court of Pakistan in this regard.
Meanwhile, former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman expressed deep concern over the government’s move against the residence of his ally Sheikh Rashid and termed it as an ‘act of revenge’.
During the PTI’s core committee meeting, Imran Khan took notice of ‘government’s illegal action’ against Rashid’s residence and instructed party’s General Secretary Asad Umar to raise voice in this regard.
Taking to Twitter, Asad Umar said that a plan was chalked out to vandalize Sheikh Rashid’s house with ‘government machinery’ and put pressure on the former interior minister.
The former information minister further wrote that PTI strongly condemns this ‘act of terrorism’ and his party stands by Awami Muslim League (AML) chief.
Earlier on January 26, it was reported that the Evacuee Trust Properties Board (ETPB) had prepared a strategy to vacate Lal Haveli, residence of Sheikh Rashid, within 24 hours.
In this regard, the department sought assistance from law enforcement agencies (LEAs) – Rangers, police and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Lal Haveli belonged to a Hindu woman prior to partition and was converted into Sheikh Rashid’s political office in 1980 after he entered parliamentary politics.
This is not the first time Rashid receives ETPB’s notice as he had claimed to receive an eviction notice in October 2016.
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