Occupying amenity plots: ‘Mafia’ grabs land allotted for a graveyard beside Malir River

KARACHI:

Land grabbers have allegedly encroached on 36 acres of public land reserved for a graveyard located beside the Malir River.

Pakistan Peoples Party Union Council 4 president Amanullah told The Express Tribune that land grabbers have marking the land to divide it into 80 and 120 square-yard plots which they are selling for Rs300,000 each with fake documents. “The land has been encroached on with the assistance of a revenue department officer who favoured the chief land grabber, Rafiullah, by removing his name from the official list of land mafia members,” he alleged.

Amanullah said the encroachment started about three years ago and the residents of Khuldabad, Landhi, had moved the Sindh High Court for eviction.

The revenue department recently issued a notification to declare that the land was reserved for a graveyard.

Meanwhile, EDO Revenue Roshan Ali Shaikh said the department has allotted land at three different locations for graveyards but he did not know what their perimeters were. To Amanullah’s allegation, Shaikh assured that he would look into the case and action would be taken if any officer was found guilty.

Sources said that officers from different government departments, in cahoots with the land mafia, have selected plots in the city’s suburbs and on the highways.

The revenue department has allotted amenity land for the graveyards in these areas but it is taking time to develop them, which is why land grabbers are able to move in.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2011.