Police tighten noose around land grabbers

List of 238 illegal occupation, extortion suspects prepared

LAHORE:

Lahore police have identified at least 238 individuals suspected of involvement in land grabbing, extortion and public harassment in the city.

The highest number of suspects has been identified in the cantonment police division where 109 people have been found involved in the criminal activities, followed by 53 in city division, 25 in Sadar, 24 in Iqbal Town, 13 in Civil Lines and 14 in Model Town division. According to the list prepared by the police, around 70 % of the suspected land grabbers, extortionists and those involved in creating public nuisance are residents of the cantonment and city divisions.

A large number of housing societies are being developed in southern Lahore and most of the area falls in Sadar division, including Raiwind, Thokar Niaz Beg, Hanjarwal, Township and Johar Town. Model Town division is also notorious for complaints of land grabbing as expensive pieces of commercial and residential land is situated there.

According to sources, the list includes the names of Khawaja Aqeel alias Gogi Butt, Amir Balaj Tipu, Khalid Mehmood alias Bhaee Pehalwan, Bila Pathan, Zahid Golden, Hamayun Butt, Bobi Gujjar, Sunny Prince, Ilyas Gujjar, Shahid Mehmood alias Shada, Malik Mansha alias Bomb and his sons, Malik Shaukat alias Shauki Changarh, Hakim Ali Bhatti, Noora Kashmiri’s sons Atif, Habib and Kashif, Iftikhar Latiya, Tanzeem Hussan alias Teefi Butt and others.

The suspects have been accused by the police of harbouring criminal elements like gamblers, drug dealers and thugs of their localities besides being involved in land grabbing, extortion, drug dealing, firing into the air and harassing people. The list also carries the criminal history based on reputation and cases registered against the suspects.

Since Ghulam Mehmood Dogar took charge as Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore, he has been leading a crackdown against elements involved in land grabbing and lawlessness. He claimed to have registered over 200 cases against such criminals in three days.

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Prime Minister Imran Khan, during a recent visit to the provincial capital, had appreciated the Lahore police for its action and vowed to carry it on. The government also notified a committee after the visit for dealing with land grabbing.

On Monday, Dogar announced in a media briefing the establishment of an ‘Anti-Qabza Mafia Cell’ at his office and a dedicated helpline number 1218 for complaints of illegal occupation of land.

He said a senior police officer would get in touch with the complainant calling at the helpline. The cell includes representatives from revenue department, Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Overseas Pakistanis Commission and other authorities to expedite action on the complaints.

He also announced a plan to conduct intelligence-based operations after pin-pointing the individuals involved in such offences. The list of 238 suspects has been prepared under the policy.

Meanwhile, Punjab Police has decided to widen the crackdown against suspected land grabbers throughout the province. A meeting was held in this regard at Central Police Office (CPO). It was chaired by Inspector General of Police Punjab Inam Ghani and attended by senior officers.

Ghani ordered intensification of action against illegal occupation of public and private land and properties across the province without any consideration for the status of the groups involved. He said against influential people and serving and retired government officers who support and shelter criminal elements should not be delayed at all.

He said the officers and influential persons who openly or secretly help the land mafia and occupy government, commercial and residential land do not deserve any concession and they should be arrested so that they do not deprive the citizens of their valuable property through illegal tactics.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2021.