The Punjab government on Friday converted former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s Lahore residence into a shelter home.

Model Town Assistant Commissioner Zeshaan Ranjha led the operation before the Social Welfare Department installed a hoarding at the building in the Gulberg area. Four kanal and 17 marla house has a worth of Rs170 million.

Acting upon the directives of the National Accountability Bureau, the Lahore Development Authority took Ishaq Dar’s house into custody on July 26, 2019.

Criticising the govt action, PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar termed the operation illegal. He said that government could not convert a property into a shelter home when a court granted a stay order in the matter.

Tarar said that the government did the same with Nawaz Sharif when he was abroad in 90s. The former prime minister came back and managed to get back his property through a court order, he maintained.

However, Model Town Assistant Commissioner Zeshaan Ranjha denied any stay order in this case.

Ishaq Dar’s lawyers will challenge the govt action in the court.

IHC restrains auction of Ishaq Dar’s house

On January 28, the Islamabad High Court had issued a restraining order against the accountability court’s decision regarding auction of Ishaq Dar’s Lahore house.

The court had suspended November 7, 2019, decision of the accountability court on a plea of Mrs Tabassum Ishaq, spouse of Dar.

IHC bench consist of Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Lubna Saleem Pervez had issued the restraining order.