LAHORE – The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar lambasted the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Malik Karamat Khokhar on Sunday over meddling in official matters in a case related to illegal land grabbing.
A two-member bench of the apex court was hearing a citizen’s petition against the land grabber, Mansha Bomb, at the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry.
PTI’s MNA Malik Karamat Khokhar and MPA Nadeem Abbas were present in court.
As the hearing went underway, the police superintendent apprised the bench that Mansha bomb along with his sons was accused of illegally grabbing land in Johar Town. “70 cases have been registered against Mansha,” the SP said.
“When we took action on the court’s orders, we started receiving calls to stop our operation,” the police official said.
In response, the chief justice inquired who had called the police officer to ask for favors. The SP then told the judge that Khokhar had asked the police to not arrest Mansha Bomb.
“Did the nation vote PTI to power to become thugs? Will they make naya Pakistan’ by helping criminals?” the chief justice remarked.
Addressing Khokhar, the chief justice said, “If the inquiry proves that you called the police to stop them from arresting Mansha, you will not return back from the court as an MNA.”
Khokar, however, denied any association with Mansha. He further informed the court that he had not called the SP. “I had called the DIG Operations,” Khokar added.
During the hearing, Abbas broke into tears. “The SP has registered false cases against me. I will resign if proven guilty in these cases,” he said.
In response, the top judge said: “Why don’t you go ahead and resign first? Let me tell you why…because you lack the courage to do so,” the CJP added.
“You people become thugs outside the court but shed tears here,” Justice Nisar remarked, adding that he will not allow any thug to reside in Pakistan.
Issuing orders to immediately arrest Mansha, the court summoned Khokhar and Nadeem to Islamabad for further hearing.
