Pakistan: SC accuses Hashmi of Gurudwara property's illegal selling

The Supreme Court of Pakistan had held Syed Asif Akhtar Hashmi, former Chairman of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), responsible for illegal selling of Sikh gurudwaras in the country.

This important decision came on January 23, this year.

Hashmi, who sold the gurudwara-lands during his tenure as chairman of ETPB, is presently residing in Dubai.

Evacuee Trust Property Board, established in 1960, is a statutory board of the Government of Pakistan, which administers evacuee properties and shrines of Hindus and Sikhs attached to religious, charitable or educational trusts, left behind by Hindus and Sikhs who migrated to India after 1947 partition of India.

On observing the illegal activities of the former chairman, Mastan Singh- Chairman Sikh Council of Pakistan and former president Pakistan Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) and Gulab Singh- Inspector in Pakistan Punjab police had filed a case against Hashmi in 2011 for illegal selling of the Gurudwara property.

Hashmi had sold approximately 807 acres out of 1,260 acres land belonging to Bebe Nanki Gurudwara Dera Chahal in village Mota Singhwala.

Hashmi planned to construct private residential quarters, parking and plaza on the said land, with the collaboration of Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Highland Living Concept (HLC) and Elcium Concept.

Anticipating adverse Court's decision, Hashmi had fled to Dubai 5-6 years back.

Pakistan Supreme Court also wrote to Lahore High Court to submit a report on the election of current Chairman of ETPB Mohd Saddiq Ul Farooq.