LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued a stay order on converting Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Ishaq Dar’s Lahore house into a shelter home.

Hearing the plea filed by wife of the former finance minister, Tabassum Ishaq Dar, Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan also directed the Punjab government to present its argument in next 10 days.

Also Read: Punjab govt converts Ishaq Dar’s house into shelter home

The petitioner argued that the provincial government’s decision was unlawful as the Islamabad High Court had already issued a stay order against auction of the same house. Tabassum Ishaq said the government was taking political revenge from the PML-N leader.

On Feb 7, the Punjab government had turned house of Ishaq Dar into a shelter home. The decision in this regard was announced by provincial Social Welfare Department.

Earlier, the Punjab government had directed to auction Dar’s house and price of the four kenal 11 marla house in Lahore’s Gulberg area was set at minimum 170 million rupees. The auction process was halted after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued stay order on it.

Assistant Commissioner Model Town Zeeshan Ranjha had said 50 deserving homeless people would be given residence at the PML-N leader’s house. “35 men and 15 women will be able to reside here separately,” he had added.

Three rooms, several washrooms and mosque area had been allocated for the purpose of abode, he had said.

Dar is living in self-exile in England as several cases are pending against him. His house was sealed earlier on order of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The NAB had pleaded to an accountability court that since he was an absconder so his all properties should be seized.