Dire consequences: Security sought for environment secretary

Land grabbers attempting to wrest part of official’s land

LAHORE: The chief secretary has asked the CCPO to provide security to a provincial secretary after he was threatened with dire consequences by a land mafia.

Internal Security Additional Secretary Syed Wajahat Irfan Hamdani has written a letter to the CCPO in this regard. The letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, reads: “The environment secretary has informed the chief secretary about the threats being issued by land grabbers who have attempted to wrest a part of the land owned by him after claiming it to be a graveyard.” The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has also filed a separate complaint with Liberty Market police about an unidentified man who forcibly entered the office of the secretary and tried to take a picture of his.

“It is requested that Iqbal Muhammad Chauhan, the environment secretary, be kindly provided adequate security and police directed to proceed according to the law,” the letter reads.  A senior public functionary told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity that Chauhan was yet to be provided with any security.  He said the land grabbers had the backing of a noted politician.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2016.