Just nine months before General Zia-ul-Haq convinced Imran Khan to reverse his decision to retire from cricket, in April 1987, the same Imran Khan was favoured by then Chief Minister of Punjab, Mian Nawaz Sharif (now his arch-rival), by being allotted a one Kanal LDA plot. It is worth mentioning that Mian Nawaz Sharif’s name began circulating in the media and public discourse as the Chief Minister who was allegedly showering LDA plots illegally on his favourites. He later became the subject of multiple inquiries against him.
It seems, and appears very odd, that Imran Khan was most probably the only person who, for the sake of obtaining a one Kanal LDA plot, submitted a request directly to Chief Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif on 2 April 1987. The most striking aspect concerning a man widely regarded as exceptionally honest, and believed by his supporters never to have committed an error out of negligence, was that Imran Khan himself wrote a letter to the Chief Minister, stating: “I am to request you kindly allot a residential plot to me. I have no house and wish to construct one for my own use.”
In response to this letter of 2 April 1987, the then Secretary to the Chief Minister, Navid Ahsan, issued instructions in an official letter two days later, on 4 April 1987, stating: “The Chief Minister has seen the enclosed request from Mr Imran Khan and has approved the allotment of a one Kanal plot out of his discretionary quota, in Faisal Town Housing Scheme, Lahore. Further necessary action may be taken in the matter.”
This occurred some 38 years ago. Yet Imran Khan now accuses Nawaz Sharif of being among the most corrupt politicians, lavishly spending the national treasury on his favourites, while failing to acknowledge that he himself was one of more than 1,300 beneficiaries who received one Kanal LDA plots in Faisal Town, Lahore, in 1987, when Nawaz Sharif was Chief Minister of Punjab.
It is further evident from a stamp paper used for Imran Khan’s affidavit, in which he reiterated his claim that he requested the allocation of a one Kanal residential plot because he did not have a house and wished to construct one for personal use. Imran Khan personally requested the plot, making him the author of his own petition, which is an unusual case, as the author of this book could not find any other instance like it.
Imran Khan’s claim of not having a house is understandable, given that in 1987 his father owned 22 Zaman Park, Lahore. This may have prompted his request to Nawaz Sharif for an LDA plot. However, ignoring this 38-year-old favour could substantially affect his political credibility, especially as he has repeatedly described Nawaz Sharif as the most corrupt politician in the country. A person who did not receive such favours from Nawaz Sharif and did not seek them may have the moral authority to criticise him. A person who personally benefited, however, cannot reasonably do so, at least on moral grounds.
It seems that former Chief Minister Usman Buzdar was not aware that his party chief, Imran Khan, was among more than 1,300 individuals who received LDA plots illegally
On numerous occasions, Imran Khan has accused Nawaz Sharif of plundering Pakistan, including through the politically motivated distribution of LDA plots to favourites. The author cites a famous press conference by former Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar and former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Mirza Shahzad Akbar on 18 March 2021, highlighting Nawaz Sharif’s alleged illegal allotment of 1,352 LDA plots between 1985 and 1990.
The then Punjab government, led by Usman Buzdar, released a list of these 1,352 allegedly illegal plots, worth billions of rupees, including 646 in Johar Town, 260 in Sabzazar, 191 in Tajpura, 108 in Gujjarpura, 37 in Allama Iqbal Town, 32 in Model Town, 31 in Faisal Town, and 5 in Gulberg, Lahore. Both Usman Buzdar and Mirza Shahzad Akbar claimed that these plots were originally meant for widows and deserving persons.
During the press conference, both officials appeared confident in asserting that Nawaz Sharif had allotted these plots to his favourites for political purposes—individuals serving his political interests. They vowed to take action against those who received plots, recover the funds, and emphasised that Nawaz Sharif had seriously violated the discretionary quota.
This raises several questions regarding Imran Khan. Were Usman Buzdar and Mirza Shahzad Akbar aware that Imran Khan was not a widower or a deserving person, but one of Nawaz Sharif’s favourites, having received a one Kanal residential plot in Faisal Town on political grounds? Did they consider that action should be taken against Imran Khan for receiving a plot originally meant for widows and deserving persons, and that the cost should be recovered? Do they still view Nawaz Sharif’s discretionary allotments as violations of the quota?
Both officials also claimed: “The incumbent government has directed the Anti-Corruption Establishment Punjab to investigate illegal plot allotments, and indiscriminate action will be initiated against those involved, with no leniency.”
However, when the author asked a PTI leader about potential action against Imran Khan, he replied: “There is no illegality since Imran Khan deserved the plot as a cricketer and national hero if Nawaz Sharif allocated it to him.”
Usman Buzdar also stated: “Laws were blatantly violated in the past, but the incumbent PTI government will ensure the supremacy of the rule of law and maintain transparency, because this is the New Pakistan of Prime Minister Imran Khan. No one will be allowed to commit illegal activities.”
It seems that former Chief Minister Usman Buzdar was not aware that his party chief, Imran Khan, was among more than 1,300 individuals who received LDA plots illegally. If Buzdar had been fully aware, he might not have spared Imran Khan, despite the latter’s status as the architect of the New Pakistan. This could have been a historic demonstration that the PTI government would hold even its own chairman accountable in pursuit of transparency and the rule of law.
Usman Buzdar expressed regret on 18 March 2021, stating: “Rather, this huge political bribery was hushed up, but the PTI government has adopted transparency and exposed past corruption, as the government fully believes in the rule of law and transparency.”
It is fortunate for Imran Khan that successive PTI governments eventually left office, leaving him untouched. Otherwise, he might have faced legal consequences for receiving a one Kanal residential LDA plot from Nawaz Sharif, an issue that, had it been pursued, could have landed him in jail despite being the founder of the New Pakistan.