Operation launched to retrieve state land in Faisalabad

DC claims land mafia had ‘political backing’ for 35 years

FAISALABAD:

The district administration and police have launched an operation in Jaranwala tehsil to retrieve 2,650 acres of government land worth over Rs16 billion from the alleged occupation mafia and illegal crops planted on 20 square acres of land had been cleared and reclaimed so far.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali and City Police Officer Sohail Chaudhry visited Chak No 534GB of Jaranwala and monitored the ongoing operation to evacuate government lands from the occupation group.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Headquarters Muhammad Khalid, Jaranwala Assistant Commissioner Zainul Abidin and tehsil administration and police officers were also present on the occasion.

The deputy commissioner said that this government land had been occupied by the mafia for 35 years, reportedly also had political backing, and is now being relinquished and the occupation of a part of the land had been recovered.

He said that in the next five days the operation will be completed in which it had been decided not to remove the five residential areas at present. He said, “Complete monitoring of the operation against land grabbers will also be underway in the district.”

The deputy commissioner further said that in the light of the directions of the Supreme Court and Punjab government, a grand operation was underway in the district against the occupation mafia and no one will be allowed to occupy government land.

The CPO said that full support would be provided by the district police till the government lands were completely vacated from the occupation group. He directed the police officers concerned to remain present and give him reports regarding the operation against land occupation regularly.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2020.