PPP MNA takes a stand to protect people’s land

Govt ‘victimising’ supporters of Malik Asad Sikandar, taking action against their ‘illegal’ businesses

HYDERABAD: Over the last two decades, Jamshoro district has remained politically synonymous with mogul MNA Malik Asad Sikandar. Elected as an MNA four times and an MPA twice, besides holding the position of nazim from 2005 to 2009, Sikandar's influence spreads from Malir in Karachi to parts of Thatta and large swathes of Jamshoro.

But recent land acquisition in Jamshoro by a leading real estate developer has ignited a quarrel between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led Sindh government and Sikandar.

"I have no objection to giving away the land [to the builder] which is not in use of the people for their living and their livelihood. But, if any decision is taken against the people of Kohistan [the mountainous region in Jamshoro], I will stand with the public," Sikandar, who has been accused of land grabbing himself, said in a recent statement.

The MNA and his supporters, who include PS-72 MPA Faqir Dad Khoso, allege that they are being subjected to reprisals. Dozens of officers, including the deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of police, posted in Jamshoro, on his recommendation have been transferred and replaced. Two deputy commissioners, Munawar Ali Mahesar and Agha Suhail Pathan, have been transferred in less than a month. On July 11, BPS-18 deputy secretary Mutassam Abbassi was notified as the new deputy commissioner.



Sikandar’s companions’ businesses like housing schemes, coal mining, stone crushing plants and lifting of sand and grit are facing crackdowns for being illegal, although they have continued for years. MPA Khoso himself led a protest on Friday against the crackdown of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and Sehwan Development Authority (SDA) on housing schemes of builders considered close to Sikandar.

The protesters staged a sit-in on the Indus Highway. According to Khoso, the booking offices of Al Karam City and Hassan Residency were demolished on Thursday as ‘punishment’.

The SDA's deputy director, Maqbool Ahmed Qureshi, said that around a dozen housing schemes have been built in Jamshoro in violation of SBCA and SDA rules. On Friday again, accompanied by a large police contingent, Qureshi led a drive to demolish allegedly illegal schemes but hundreds of Sikandar's supporters impeded the action.



Khoso argued that the housing schemes facing the crackdown have been legally established and around 80% of the plots have been allotted to private buyers.

"There are dozens of housing schemes [in Jamshoro] that have been established on government land occupied by forging revenue records and without obtaining the no objection certificates and approvals from the SBCA and SDA," said an official of the SDA, who requested anonymity.

According to him, Sikandar is a known supporter of land grabbing. "But he isn't alone. Other elected representatives in the provincial government are also involved in same activities," he alleged.

Genesis

According to unconfirmed reports, the provincial government has planned to transfer four dehs - units of revenue administration - of Jamshoro to Malir. All four dehs - Mool, Babbur Dad, Hothal and Butt - happen to be strongholds of Sikandar and are located in Khoso's constituency. The detachment of these dehs will electorally weaken Sikandar in Jamshoro, which has one MNA and three MPA seats.



Although Sikandar was not available for a comment, Khoso said the dispute did not start over the dehs. "The real problem is a land dispute in Kachelo Burfat village in Malir." He alleged that the Sindh government is supporting a real estate developer’s forceful occupation of the village, where people are supporters of Sikandar.

He claimed that around 15 days ago, people in around 100 vehicles, including 50 to 60 police mobiles, charged upon the village to get some parts of the land vacated. A few villagers were injured in the resultant clash and were also booked in an FIR by the Malir police.

"Malik sahib [Sikandar] said if they [government and builder] want to purchase the land, he can arrange their meeting with the villagers and will request the people to amicably resolve the issue," said Khoso, lamenting that the offer was not even considered. "This is a very strange way of handling the situation by lodging FIRs and putting people in jail. This is done only during dictatorships," he said. Khoso said they are not opposed to the sale of private land to any builder but they feel the need to watch the process if the provincial government gives away the state's land to the builder. "We will have to see for which purpose the land is being given and whether there is a provision for such allotment."



Another Jamshoro MPA, Dr Sikandar Shoro, who is being labelled a rival by Sikandar's camp, said the issues are being raised unnecessarily. "Action is being taken against the illegal lifting of sand and grit and crash plants operating without permission, illegal coal mining and housing schemes established in violation of the rules."

He said earlier the issue of removing four dehs from Jamshoro was raised but the provincial government clarified that there is no such plan. "And now they are complaining in favour of some local builders whose housing schemes have been built illegally."

Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz's minority wing leader Khael Das Kohistani said his party will support Sikandar if he stood up for the land rights of the local residents