SHC summons officials in land conversion case

Land for playground converted to residential property where people have lived since 1975

KARACHI:

The constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) has summoned the Secretary of the Human Settlement/Katchi Abadis Department, Sindh, in person over a petition challenging the conversion of a playground into residential plots in Rehmanabad, Federal B Area.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon heard the case. The petitioner's counsel, representing citizen Muhammad Yousuf and others, argued that the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) had originally allocated the plot in Federal B Area Block 5 for welfare purposes. The land was later developed into a playground and handed over to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).

However, it was alleged that the Katchi Abadi authorities subsequently leased the same land and allotted it to individuals for residential use.

The court expressed surprise over the conversion of a welfare plot into residential use. Justice Memon questioned how such a conversion could legally take place.

The counsel for the Human Settlement Department stated that the decision was made under directives of the Chief Minister Sindh and added that people have been residing there for the past 25 years. Meanwhile, KDA's counsel maintained that the land originally belonged to their department but was handed over to KMC for development and maintenance as a park.

The petitioner's lawyer further submitted that around 400 houses and shops have now been constructed on the land, and that alternative plots had already been allocated to the residents. The petition has been pending since 2014.

In contrast, the respondents' counsel argued that the residents have been living there since 1975 and possess lease documents and other legal papers.

The court directed the Secretary of the Human Settlement/Katchi Abadis Department to appear in person at the next hearing and explain how a welfare plot was converted into residential property. The hearing was adjourned until April 2.

Scheme 45 land fraud case

A provincial anti-corruption court has directed the investigating officer to submit an inquiry report at the next hearing in a case involving alleged tampering of official land records, bribery, and abuse of authority in Taiser Town Scheme 45.

During the hearing, the court expressed displeasure over the failure to submit the inquiry report. The investigating officer, Imtiaz Channa, requested additional time to present the report.

The court questioned the officer about the delay and subsequently ordered him to submit the inquiry report at the next hearing. The proceedings were adjourned until April 8.

The case names several accused, including Assistant Commissioner Ghulam Haider Chandio, Mukhtiarkar Hussain, Registrar Cooperative Society Younis Baloch, Tapidar Abdul Haq Shahani, President of State Bank Cooperative Housing Society Scheme 45 Abdullah Alvi, Naseer, and others.

According to the prosecution, the accused, in collusion, manipulated official land records in Taiser Town Scheme 45, accepted bribes, and misused their authority to establish an illegal housing society on government land. They allegedly sold plots under the name of the State Bank Cooperative Housing Society, embezzling millions of rupees.

Earlier, a reference against the accused was under trial in NAB.