LAHORE: A civil court on Tuesday extended the stay regarding Jati Umra residence of the Sharif family in a suit accusing the Punjab government of forging revenue records to disturb the ownership of the property.

On the previous hearing, the court had maintained status quo in the case and sought replies from the respondents. The court extended the stay till May 6 and directed the respondents to ensure submission of replies.

Yousaf Abbas and three other children of Abbas Sharif, the late brother of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, had filed the suit seeking a declaration in their favour as lawful owners in possession of the property being legal heirs of the late Ms Shamim Akhtar, grandmother of the plaintiffs.

The suit states that the plaintiffs and the pro-forma defendants are the legal heirs and successors-in-interest of Ms Akhtar. She was the owner of the property measuring 241 kanals and 10 marlas in the revenue estate of Manak, Raiwind tehsil, Lahore district through two registered sale deeds materialised in 1993 and 1996.

Ms Akhtar died in London on Nov 22, 2020 leaving behind the plaintiffs and pro-forma defendants as her only legal heirs.

The suit contends that the plaintiffs and the pro-forma defendants are the joint owners in possession of the Jati Umra, Raiwind property measuring 1,580 kanals, including the land mentioned in the two sale deeds.

Out of the total 1,580 kanals, a piece measuring 1,180 kanals was agricultural land whereas the remaining 400 kanals comprises mansions constructed by the plaintiffs and the pro-forma defendants, who have been in possession of the land since they had purchased the same.

It says the revenue authorities were out to illegally manoeuver the ownership record of the land at the behest of the incumbent government.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2021