Ownership dispute: JUI-F senator accused of land grabbing by MPA

Fazal Shakoor threatens ‘violent strikes’ if land is not vacated.

CHARSADDA:

Owners of the land which used to house Asia paper mill have threatened to take violent action against those accused of trying to wrest ownership of the property.

According to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) MPA in Charsadda, Fazal Shakoor Khan, employees of the now defunct paper mill, industrialists and a land mafia are planning to use the land to build plazas. Khan accused JUI-F Senator Ghulam Ali of heading such efforts.

At a news conference held at the Charsadda Press Club this week, Khan said his forefathers and the forefathers of the rest of the landowners had rented a certain acreage to Asia paper mill in 1969 for “industrial use”. He said the decision to lease the land was taken on grounds that the mill would provide employment to thousands of locals.

The mill was shutdown soon after and the machinery was moved to Sheikhupura, Punjab.

Khan accused Ali and the land mafia of now trying to transfer ownership of the property illegally so they can construct a plaza on it, against the will of the landowners.

He added he and the other landowners have filed cases against the “land grabbing attempt”. Maintaining they are the original owners of the land, Khan said Ali and his accomplices are using fake ownership documents.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Senator Ghulam Ali rejected all the allegations and said the Supreme Court, Peshawar High Court and Human Rights Cell have issued orders in his favour. He added the tehsil municipal committee also approved the map he and his colleagues have submitted to develop the land.

“We will set up a steel mill and other industrial units, and use the remaining land for a residential colony, schools and a community centre for the employees and their families.”

Ali said after losing the case in courts “these so-called landowners are now using the media to influence the situation.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2014.