Ownership quandary: Land allocated for CPEC without consent, says PPP leader

Amjad Hussain, regional president, also warns of going to court for justice

GILGIT: Pakistan Peoples Party regional president Amjad Hussain has said land worth billions belonging to residents of Gilgit-Baltistan has been allocated for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. “This is illegal,” added Hussain.

He expressed these views at a gathering held in connection with the death anniversary of a local journalist, Raja Hussain Khan, at Gilgit Press Club on Saturday.

“This is illegal and an injustice with locals as their land has been allocated for CPEC without their consent.”

Hussain said 6,000 kanals of land has been earmarked in Diamer and other parts of G-B for CPEC. Its market price stands at more than Rs60 billion, stated Hussain.

He added, “Under the law, land belonging to locals cannot be taken away without compensating them.” He added, “It is a travesty of justice that residents are not paid a single penny for their land.”

The PPP regional president warned if the government did not buy the land, then he would approach the court to seek justice. He commented, “We don’t trust this government and will protest for our rights.”

Hussain regretted the political parties did not raise voice against the issue which will impact several people.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2016