Islamabad, August 05, 2021 (PPI-OT):A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Dr. Muhammad Farogh Naseem in relation to Abandoned Properties administered by the government. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan, Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Barrister Maleeka Ali Bokhari other Parliamentarians, Ms. Kishwar Zehra and Usama Qadri, MNAs and senior officers of Abandoned Properties Organization and Federal Investigation Agency attended the meeting.

The committee was apprised that properties of persons who left Pakistan in 1971 have been disposed of by the Abandoned Properties Organization, while international law says that if there is no legitimate owner then those properties should be handed over to the migrants from Bangladesh. Federal Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Dr. Muhammad Farogh Naseem issued stern instructions that the Abandoned Properties Organization must refrain them any sale, gift or disposal in whatsoever manner whether movable including gold, prize bonds, certificates or immovable in which plots, houses and agricultural land were included and all ongoing transactions should be frozen immediately otherwise strict action will be taken against those responsible.

The Federal Minister further directed that in the next meeting of the committee all the details of properties including gold or any other assets whether disposed of or otherwise from 1971 to date should be presented, it should be clearly stated that how many assets have been sold so far and who owned them previously and to whom they were sold and under what authority. The Minister for Law and Justice also sought views of Abandoned Properties Organization and FIA.

Federal Minister further said that it is our responsibility to do justice in this issue as to who shall be owning these assets. Mr. Ali Muhammad Khan stated that we must not forget the sacrifices of those who after sacrificing their loved ones and relatives, they left their homes and migrated here in 1971. The Federal Minister said that as the Chairman of the Committee, I will do my best to do justice to this issue and submit a clear and transparent report to the Federal Cabinet.

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