LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench on Monday sought replies from the Punjab government and the prosecution department on a bail petition filed by former president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandakh Committee (PSGPC) Sardar Mastan Singh.

Counsel for the former head told the bench that sitting president of the committee, Sardar Sham Singh, had a case registered against his client and others on charges of anti-state activities and spreading religious hatred. During the last month of 2015, Nankana police had lodged the case under different sections of PPC and anti-terrorism law.

Counsel Anwar Zahid argued that Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Siddiqul Farooq and Sham Singh joined hands with land mafia and illegally sold hundreds of acre canal land belonging to Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib, to a housing scheme.

He alleged that the sitting president of PSGPC at the behest of the board`s chairman implicated his client and his associates in a fabricated case to curb their voice against illegal sale of the land. The lawyer asked the court to release Mastan Singh on bail.

Opposing the bail petition, Sham Singh`s counsel Tariq Bashir Awan argued that investigation of the case had been transferred to anti-terrorism department. He said bail should not be granted to the suspects before completion of the investigation.

The bench headed by Justice Mazhar Iqbal Sidhu adjourned hearing till Tuesday (today) and sought replies from the government and the prosecution department.

A number of Sikhs had come to the court in support of Mastan Singh. They also held a protest demonstration and chanted slogans against ETPB head Siddiqul Farooq.