LAHORE: A senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has alleged that land belonging to a temple in Punjab has been illegally occupied under the influence of a top bureaucrat.
The Sanatan Dharam Mandir, located in Bhalwal about 250 kilometres from Lahore, is at the centre of the controversy.
PPP senior leader Nadeem Afzal Chan, in a video shared on X, claimed that the temple’s land has been unlawfully taken over at the behest of Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman. He further alleged that several acres of land managed by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) in Bhera and Kot Momin in Sargodha—around 200 km from Lahore—have also been occupied by the chief secretary’s nephews.
The ETPB is responsible for overseeing the holy sites of minority communities in Pakistan.
“I have spoken to multiple bureaucrats who confirmed that the chief secretary’s nephews are involved in occupying lands in these areas. They are pointing fingers at two lawmakers who are related to him,” Chan said. He added that if the chief secretary’s name is being misused, he should take action against those responsible.
The chief secretary, however, declined to comment.
A source within the ETPB told reporters here that the temple’s land was seized with the collusion of some board officials. “The land grabbers have already begun constructing a plaza on the site,” the source said.
ETPB Secretary Farid Iqbal stated that the board has issued notices to those carrying out construction on the temple premises.
