Major breakthrough: Expats commission retrieves 441 kanals

Applicant had lodged a complaint to the commission, saying his agricultural land had been illegally occupied

LAHORE: The Overseas Pakistanis Commission (OPC) Punjab has taken back over 441 kanals worth Rs40 million in the largest retrieval of land in terms of size from illegal squatters.

In a statement issued on Sunday, an applicant named Asghar Ali had lodged a complaint to the commission, saying his 441 kanal and 10 marla agricultural land in Thatti Anok Singh, district Hafizabad had been illegally occupied by some influential of the area. The occupiers had refused to vacate the land and also threatened him with dire consequences. The applicant, who lives in Saudi Arabia, could not deal with the land grabbers.

OPC Commissioner Afzaal Bhatti said the complaint was referred to the District Overseas Pakistanis Committee, Hafizabad for necessary action.

The committee pursued the case vigorously and after a legal battle and through support of the line departments, the entire land was vacated and handed over to the applicant.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2017.