Trust properties of minorities remain occupied

In the absence of a digital record system, heritage buildings owned by Hindu and Sikh citizens are annexed by influent

LAHORE:

Tourists visiting streets in Old Lahore like the Mall Road or Hall Road would be fascinated by the majestic royalty exuded by the majority of multi-storeyed residences however, few would ever find out that these timeless architectural masterpieces are actually annexed trust properties belonging to the minority communities.

Despite countless efforts undertaken by the One-man Commission, FIA, Board of Revenue, Evacuee Trust Property Board, police and district administration, on the orders of the Supreme Court in July 2022, to remove encroachments on the trust properties of temples, only a small percentage of the annexed properties have been retrieved during the last two years, due largely to the absence of a digital record system, which complicates the tracking of leased or rented properties.

"The Evacuee Trust Property Board's record system is outdated. Like other government departments, there are many corrupt people in this department who are standing in the way of ending the occupations. Therefore, it has been our long standing demand that the record, leasing and renting of trust properties should be digitalized, to ensure transparency," demanded Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, Chairman of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs in Punjab.

Dr Shoaib Siddal, Chairman of the One-man Commission, told The Express Tribune that the Commission had so far recovered more than 6000 acres of occupied land amounting to a total of Rs42 billion in worth, with the help of various government departments including the Evacuee Trust Property Board, Federal Audit, Board of Revenue, FIA, police and district administration. "Unfortunately, this is only 40 per cent of the total value of the properties. Problems in evacuation of properties arise due to the outdated Evacuee Trust Property Board's system, lack of coordination between the federal and provincial governments, widespread corruption in the public sector and misuse of the judicial system for personal interests," explained Dr Siddal.

According to an audit conducted by the Federal Audit Office on the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the area of illegally occupied agricultural land was estimated to be around 15,000 acres, excluding the properties in urban areas, which are worth billions of rupees. Furthermore, many organizations and individuals illegally occupying the properties of the Evacuee Trust Property Board have obtained injunctions from the courts. Such cases have been pending in courts for years. The property is leased from the Evacuee Trust Property Board and then permanently occupied. Hence, there are many properties which have been leased out by the department and have now transformed into shops, markets and settlements.

In this regard, Krishan Sharma, Head of the Pakistan Hindu Temple Management Committee, said, "The Evacuee Trust Property Board is the custodian of Sikh and Hindu trust properties, but it is a fact that without the complicity of the people within the department, illegal possession of these properties would not have been possible. The encroachers of trust properties have not only damaged the department but also brought the country into disrepute at the international level. This matter should be brought before the federal and provincial apex committees, so that trust properties can be retrieved and the protection and restoration of these properties and holy places can be ensured for the promotion of religious tourism."