MULTAN,Jan 31th:Scores of gangs of land grabbers are active in Punjab province with the support of lawyers, politicians, police officers, revenue officers,Judicial offials defunct religious organisations, and local landlords,”revealed a ‘Black Book’, jointly prepared by
the Home Department and Punjab Police’s Special Branch.Sources said that Some parliamentarians have also organised "Qabza groups" and Police is unable to take action against these elements because they are so powerful to make or mar the smaller fry.The Anti-Corruption Establishment has started an inquiry into a scam wherein the State land worth billions of rupees in Layyah district, has been grabbed by some local bigwigs under the cover of the so-called land adjustment, sources in the ACE said.
Director General Justice (Retd) Kazim Ali Malik, in a letter addressed to Punjab Additional Chief Secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretary to Chief Minister, DG Khan Commissioner, and Layyah DCO, has informed them that the Revenue Department’s Layyah staff were reluctant to provide record of the disputed land to the ACE. He further wrote the DOR concerned “should be bound to comply with the orders otherwise the ACE will be forced to take cohesive measures to get the record.” The sources said the ACE’s Special Investigation Unit has somehow secured part of the record.
They said the issue came to light when the area influentials got the state land transferred in their names. An officer with the ACE told this scribe that as per the Land Act, adjustment of land “can only be implemented beyond the limits of a municipal corporation.” In Layyah district, however, there were three types of adjustments: 1) adjustments against claims within municipal limits; 2) adjustments five kilometres from the municipal limits (which is called Prohibited Zone); and, 3) adjustments beyond the Prohibited Zone.The sources claimed the people involved in the allotments were backed by some parliamentarians. “And one former district Nazim of Layyah, Malik Ghulam Haider, is one such accused.” An investigator said the Thal Development Authority was formed in the past for the settlement of the claims of claimants of various development projects in Layyah. “And thirty percent land was supposed to be handed over to the claimants beyond the municipal limits as per law. But certain people managed to get land against their claims within the municipal limits,” he added. An investigation officer said that most of the cases were witnessed during the year 2004 to 2008 wherein forge documents were prepared. He said that 563 such cases have been surfaced so far out of whom 52 cases have been traced within municipal limits. Sources in the Home Department claimed that 50 gangs of land grabbers were operating in the province and they have occupied commercial and agricultural land belonging to the State and its subjects. According to the ‘Black Book’, jointly prepared by the Home Department and Punjab Police’s Special Branch, the land grabbers have the support of lawyers, politicians, police officers, revenue officers, defunct religious organisations, and local landlords,” the sources further revealed.
the Home Department and Punjab Police’s Special Branch.Sources said that Some parliamentarians have also organised "Qabza groups" and Police is unable to take action against these elements because they are so powerful to make or mar the smaller fry.The Anti-Corruption Establishment has started an inquiry into a scam wherein the State land worth billions of rupees in Layyah district, has been grabbed by some local bigwigs under the cover of the so-called land adjustment, sources in the ACE said.
Director General Justice (Retd) Kazim Ali Malik, in a letter addressed to Punjab Additional Chief Secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretary to Chief Minister, DG Khan Commissioner, and Layyah DCO, has informed them that the Revenue Department’s Layyah staff were reluctant to provide record of the disputed land to the ACE. He further wrote the DOR concerned “should be bound to comply with the orders otherwise the ACE will be forced to take cohesive measures to get the record.” The sources said the ACE’s Special Investigation Unit has somehow secured part of the record.
They said the issue came to light when the area influentials got the state land transferred in their names. An officer with the ACE told this scribe that as per the Land Act, adjustment of land “can only be implemented beyond the limits of a municipal corporation.” In Layyah district, however, there were three types of adjustments: 1) adjustments against claims within municipal limits; 2) adjustments five kilometres from the municipal limits (which is called Prohibited Zone); and, 3) adjustments beyond the Prohibited Zone.The sources claimed the people involved in the allotments were backed by some parliamentarians. “And one former district Nazim of Layyah, Malik Ghulam Haider, is one such accused.” An investigator said the Thal Development Authority was formed in the past for the settlement of the claims of claimants of various development projects in Layyah. “And thirty percent land was supposed to be handed over to the claimants beyond the municipal limits as per law. But certain people managed to get land against their claims within the municipal limits,” he added. An investigation officer said that most of the cases were witnessed during the year 2004 to 2008 wherein forge documents were prepared. He said that 563 such cases have been surfaced so far out of whom 52 cases have been traced within municipal limits. Sources in the Home Department claimed that 50 gangs of land grabbers were operating in the province and they have occupied commercial and agricultural land belonging to the State and its subjects. According to the ‘Black Book’, jointly prepared by the Home Department and Punjab Police’s Special Branch, the land grabbers have the support of lawyers, politicians, police officers, revenue officers, defunct religious organisations, and local landlords,” the sources further revealed.
