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Thread on how Sr. Journalist Najam Sethi misused power. The advantage gained has been in billions of Rupees over a 24 years of occupation of a prime Government property.
Informed sources have revealed that Lok Virsa, an organization under the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture has decided to retrieve its properties in illegal possession of influential people.
This includes shops in the Lok Virsa and a property occupied in the pricey Super Market area of ISB for last 24 years by journalist Najam Sethi under the garb of Vanguard Books. This property has a potential revenue of 25 lacs has been occupied by Sethi for little over 2 lacs.
Every time over the years when an attempt has been made by Lok Virsa to take back the property, he has either used his influence to extend the lease, at a nominal rent, or taken refuge behind extended legal procedures to thwart the Folk Heritage organization.
The story begins in 1996 when Mr. Sethi was influential enough to be in the caretaker cabinet of Malik Meraj Khalid. During that year he took on lease this valuable property in Super Market, Islamabad for little over 50000 and established a bookshop known as Vanguard Books.
In 2001 he got the lease extended again for a paltry sum to 2006. In 2006 a notice was by the Govt for the vacation of the property. But after some back door negotiations the lease was again extended to 2009. In 2009 Lok Virsa again sent a notice of vacation to Mr. Sethi.
However, it was not followed up by any practical action. The result was that after remaining in occupation without a lease for sometime he managed to get the lease period. The last agreement was signed by PMLN Govt of a period of 3 years till Feb 2020.
After the coming into office of PTI Govt another attempt was made in 2019 to get the premises vacated because Lok Virsa required this property to establish a cultural center. Even otherwise Lok Virsa felt that it was losing a potential income of Rs 20 lacs a month.
When Mr. Sethi refused to vacate even though his legal agreement had expired, Lok Virsa sought relief through the rent controller. This petition became unnecessary as rent restriction act does not apply on Govt buildings. Hence Lok Virsa has given another notice to Mr. Sethi.
Again, this is a classical example of misuse of power by an influential journalist and the advantage gained is in billions of Rupees over a 24 years of occupation of a prime Govt property.
