Encroached-upon land: Over 7,000 kanals recovered

CDA recovers 7,170 kanals from land-grabbers in Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) have recovered 7,170 kanals from land-grabbers in Islamabad. This was said in a report submitted to a three-member bench of the Supreme Court on Saturday. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry headed the bench.

The Supreme Court had directed CDA to get the land back without offering any concessions or compromises to the encroachers. CDA was told: “Money for it (the land) was paid out of public exchequer therefore it should be taken back.”

The court stated that the previous owners had no claim over the land anymore. The court had asked CDA chairperson to submit a fortnightly progress report on the matter. “A fortnightly progress report should also be sent to the registrar for perusal of the court until the whole property owned by CDA, and presently in possession of unauthorised occupants, is recovered,” the court had said in its ruling.

The report said that 250 kanals were repossessed at Malpur Village on January 12 and pickets had been put up over there to discourage further encroachments. “Possession of another 10 kanals in the same village was taken on January 18,” said a CDA official.

The report further revealed that new construction was stopped in Village Lakhwal and pickets were placed to stop further encroachments. “Operations have also been carried out by the Enforcement Directorate and possession of approximately 1,400 kanals in Chak Bhera Singh, Dhok Jeejan and Village Lakhwal were reclaimed on February 14,” it added. The report said possession of another piece of prime land measuring 10 kanals at Malpur, close to Chinese Embassy, had also been taken on February 15.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.