CDA reclaims land in Shah Allah Ditta

Land grabbers sold plots carved out from forest area to expats

ISLAMABAD:

In its continuing effort to reclaim properties usurped by land grabbers, the administration of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) conducted an operation in the Shah Allah Dita on Wednesday and successfully retrieved 100 kanals of land.

It is estimated that a total of 800 kanals of the government’s forest land has been illegally occupied by the members of the land mafia.

The land grabbers enjoying political acumen and links with unscrupulous elements in the police and administration have carved out plots on encroached land and sold it to people who have even started construction on it.

The enforcement department of CDA along with district administration and police took part in the operation.

Land grabbers have taken over 800 kanals of land of in Zone-3 of the capital although CDA had the original ownership deeds of the land since 1989. Despite this fact the land was being flagrantly sold by the land grabbers to the people and illegal construction was in progress.

The land was being sold to overseas Pakistanis as well as to residents of Karachi who did not know the actual position of the ownership. It is being said that some powerful figures are involved in this racket at Shah Allah Dita.

However, a joint operation of CDA and district administration effectively retrieved 100 kanals land from them Tuesday and illegal structures demolished on the spot.

The operation will continue throughout the week. Directions have been issued restraining all involved to desist from making any further construction on the said land, CDA said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2021.