Mirza: 2 ex-CMs are backing forest encroachments
KARACHI:
Legislators finally let the cat out of the bag on Friday by revealing the names of landlords in Sindh who are allegedly controlling prime forest land and milking it for all its worth.
“Most of the forest land in Sindh has been occupied by landlords, politicians and other influential people who patronise dacoits,” declared Sindh interior and forest minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza during the Sindh Assembly session on Friday.
He said that the forest department had prepared a list of encroachers, following the worsening law and order situation, and submitted it to the home department and the assembly as well.
When he was asked to disclose the names of the influential landlords, the minister named two of Sindh’s former chief ministers, Mumtaz Ali Bhutto and Liaquat Ali Jatoi. “Besides them, Altaf Unar in Larkana and the Sheerazi brothers in Thatta are also involved in the menace,” he added.
“One of the members of the Sindh Assembly is also involved and I have proof that no one can challenge.”
Around 12 acres of land, where banana and sugarcane crops had been cultivated, was encroached upon by landlords and their men in Thatta, claimed Mirza, naming Ghotki, Sukkur, Sanghar, Matiari and Naushero Feroz as prime dense forest areas that have now become hideouts for criminals. Mirza said that some MNAs complained to the prime minister about him taking legal action against them.
The minister also addressed the issue of many people having agricultural land on five-year leases and how according to the rules, they were bound to grow forests on 25 per cent of the land. “But they are not fulfilling the conditions and are not evacuating the land after the lease expires.”
According to Mirza, in Naushero Feroz around 2,000 acres of land have been illegally occupied by influential landlords, who have set up tubewells by installing illegal power connections and have started farming. “The forest department has started the campaign against this by cutting their electricity connections. Show-cause notices have also been issued to 952 lease holders and around 116 leases have been cancelled,” he explained.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Mumtaz Ali Bhutto responded to the allegations made by Zulfikar Mirza by saying that a group of criminals is “leading the country” right now and maintaining the law and order situation is difficult for them. He said he had “proof of their criminal activities”.
“I gave more than 40,000 acres of my land away during Ayub Khan’s tenure. I think Zulfikar Mirza has never seen such land in his life. Why would I need to encroach on some little pieces of land?”
He said that if he were guilty of such offences, then the police should arrest him. “But they are obviously not because they have nothing against me,” said Bhutto.
Transport
The MQM’s Khalid Ahmed raised the issue of the hike in transport fares to which transport minister Akhtar Hussain Jadoon informed the House that they went up for the first time since 2009 by one rupee, even though the price of diesel had gone up by Rs11. Meanwhile, Ahmed insisted that although the government had lowered petroleum prices, transport fares have been increased. Alleging that the transport mafia was to blame, the MPA demanded the immediate withdrawal of the fare increase via a notification.
Slander
Rai Naz Bozdar alleged that members of parliament are humiliated in the media, citing the example of the language used on a radio station against parliament and its members. Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said that parliament was a representative forum of the people and its members needed to be respected. He said this has not happened for the first time and MPAs have had to tolerate slander and defamation many times.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 5th, 2010.
Legislators finally let the cat out of the bag on Friday by revealing the names of landlords in Sindh who are allegedly controlling prime forest land and milking it for all its worth.
“Most of the forest land in Sindh has been occupied by landlords, politicians and other influential people who patronise dacoits,” declared Sindh interior and forest minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza during the Sindh Assembly session on Friday.
He said that the forest department had prepared a list of encroachers, following the worsening law and order situation, and submitted it to the home department and the assembly as well.
When he was asked to disclose the names of the influential landlords, the minister named two of Sindh’s former chief ministers, Mumtaz Ali Bhutto and Liaquat Ali Jatoi. “Besides them, Altaf Unar in Larkana and the Sheerazi brothers in Thatta are also involved in the menace,” he added.
“One of the members of the Sindh Assembly is also involved and I have proof that no one can challenge.”
Around 12 acres of land, where banana and sugarcane crops had been cultivated, was encroached upon by landlords and their men in Thatta, claimed Mirza, naming Ghotki, Sukkur, Sanghar, Matiari and Naushero Feroz as prime dense forest areas that have now become hideouts for criminals. Mirza said that some MNAs complained to the prime minister about him taking legal action against them.
The minister also addressed the issue of many people having agricultural land on five-year leases and how according to the rules, they were bound to grow forests on 25 per cent of the land. “But they are not fulfilling the conditions and are not evacuating the land after the lease expires.”
According to Mirza, in Naushero Feroz around 2,000 acres of land have been illegally occupied by influential landlords, who have set up tubewells by installing illegal power connections and have started farming. “The forest department has started the campaign against this by cutting their electricity connections. Show-cause notices have also been issued to 952 lease holders and around 116 leases have been cancelled,” he explained.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Mumtaz Ali Bhutto responded to the allegations made by Zulfikar Mirza by saying that a group of criminals is “leading the country” right now and maintaining the law and order situation is difficult for them. He said he had “proof of their criminal activities”.
“I gave more than 40,000 acres of my land away during Ayub Khan’s tenure. I think Zulfikar Mirza has never seen such land in his life. Why would I need to encroach on some little pieces of land?”
He said that if he were guilty of such offences, then the police should arrest him. “But they are obviously not because they have nothing against me,” said Bhutto.
Transport
The MQM’s Khalid Ahmed raised the issue of the hike in transport fares to which transport minister Akhtar Hussain Jadoon informed the House that they went up for the first time since 2009 by one rupee, even though the price of diesel had gone up by Rs11. Meanwhile, Ahmed insisted that although the government had lowered petroleum prices, transport fares have been increased. Alleging that the transport mafia was to blame, the MPA demanded the immediate withdrawal of the fare increase via a notification.
Slander
Rai Naz Bozdar alleged that members of parliament are humiliated in the media, citing the example of the language used on a radio station against parliament and its members. Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said that parliament was a representative forum of the people and its members needed to be respected. He said this has not happened for the first time and MPAs have had to tolerate slander and defamation many times.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 5th, 2010.