Residents of Bani Gala and reportedly the neighbours of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, namely Azmatullah and Mohammad Umar Gondal, have accused the nephew of the premier of grabbing their land.
According to a petition filed by the two in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), they purchased land measuring 30 kanals in Mohra Noor Islamabad which is adjacent to the land of the premier.
It said that out of 30 kanals, they have sold 16 kanals while 14 kanals of land was in their possession.
The petitioners started landscaping and designed the land to convert it into an orchard; labourers were also hired for this purpose. However, the assistant commissioner (rural) and SHO Banigala stopped them from construction, Dawn reported citing the petition.
When the petitioners approached the district magistrate (deputy commissioner) and others, they were told that Shahraz Azeem Khan, nephew of PM Imran, is interested in buying their land and advised the petitioner that “it is better for them to sell this land” to PM’s nephew.
It said that the petitioners were called by deputy commissioner when they reached his office, he arranged their telephonic conversation with PM’s nephew. The petitioners claimed that Shahraz Khan categorically asked them to sell their land or face consequences.
As per the petition, the district administration threatened the petitioners they would be placed in fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) or they would be jailed under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) and when they will come out of prison, their property would be occupied and they would never be compensated.
According to the petition, under Article 23 of the Constitution, any citizen has the right to hold or dispose of his property.
The petitioners requested the court to declare the forced acquisition of their lawful land as illegal and restrain the district administration and police from interfering in the matter.
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri of the IHC has issued notices to the premier’s nephew, assistant commissioner (rural), the district magistrate and Banigala SHO on the petition, the report said.
