In a significant development, the Department of Evacuee Trust Properties in Rawalpindi, under the leadership of Deputy Administrator Asif Khan, conducted an operation to seal Lal Haveli, owned by former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid.
The operation took place in the Bhabra Bazaar area of Rawalpindi early in the morning, where Lal Haveli consists of various units, including ground floors, central courtyards, guesthouses, and political meeting spaces. In total, seven shops within Lal Haveli were sealed as part of the action.
Deputy Administrator Asif Khan stated that this operation marked the commencement of legal proceedings to confiscate the property owned by Sheikh Rashid on behalf of the government. He emphasized that the documents provided by Sheikh Rashid in his defense were deemed unacceptable.
Following this development, the Chairman of the Board nullified the property’s registration, initiating the process for the government to take possession of the Lal Haveli property.
During the sealing of Lal Haveli, an additional lock was placed on all entrances, and a heavy police presence was observed at the scene. The political secretariat of the Awami Muslim League was also located within Lal Haveli and was included in the sealing operation.
Remarkably, no significant resistance or opposition was encountered from any of Sheikh Rashid’s associates or supporters during the operation.
A personal employee of Sheikh Rashid, while speaking to the media, claimed that the sealing of Lal Haveli was politically motivated and intended as retribution against Sheikh Rashid. He mentioned that Sheikh Rashid had instructed his associates not to obstruct or resist any legal action.
Furthermore, following the sealing of Lal Haveli, the employees of the Evacuee Trust Properties department proceeded to close down the 100-year-old Dama Mandir, located in the Raja Bazaar area of Rawalpindi. Several units within the Mandir complex were sealed, prompting traders to seek legal recourse by appealing to the courts.
The sealing of Lal Haveli and the subsequent actions regarding Dama Mandir have stirred political controversy, with various political stakeholders offering their opinions on the matter.
