Punjab Assembly in uproar over Moonis’ corruption in land deals

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Sanaullah alleges Pervaiz Elahi, Moonis Elahi illegally purchased 35,000 kanals of state land

By Hussain Kashif

LAHORE: Thursday’s session of the Punjab Assembly (PA) turned clamorous when some MPAs highlighted the illegal purchase of government land worth millions of rupees by former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi’s son MPA Moonis Elahi.

MPAs of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and the PML-Quaid traded accusations during the heated exchange.

It all started when MPA Samina Naveed inquired about the current status of the Robert Agricultural Farm in Rahim Yar Khan and asked whether the farm had been acquired under the Christian Inheritance Act.

The opposition protested and said the land transaction was a private matter and could not be put up in the House according to the PA Rules of Business.

At this, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah informed the House that a British national Robert had established the farm in 1940 on the directions of the British government. He said Robert returned to England after the Partition and the land become a state property. Thus, he said the issue was not a private matter and could be discussed in the House.

Illegal purchase: Sanaullah said Moonis Elahi, Brig Mukhtar Ahmad, Ibrahim and Imtiaz Ahmad had illegally purchased nearly 34,747 kanals of state land for Rs 37.8 million. He said Pervaiz Elahi and Moonis Elahi had acquired nearly 26,000 kanals of the said land without paying a penny.

This invited a lot of criticism from the opposition MPAs who stood up on their benches and raised slogans against the government and PML-N ministers.

In response, opposition leader in the PA Chaudhry Zaheeruddin alleged that PML-N leaders had acquired 16-acre land in Jati Umra at half of the market price.

MPAs of the Pakistan People’s Party stayed calm during the discussion, while Senior Minister Raja Riaz suggested that a committee should be constituted to resolve the issue. However, the opposition members did not accept it.

The opposition further accused the law minister of having illegally occupied a 10-marla plot in Faisalabad. Sanaullah denied the allegation and said he would resign if the charges were proved.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg7_12