Land grab: LDA recovers 250 kanals of encroached land

Officer accused of slapping two women during operation.


Our Correspondent May 03, 2012

LAHORE:


The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Thursday recovered 250 kanals of land from illegal occupants in Nasir Ganj Village of Moza Rakhpura amid firing in the air, manhandling of the officials and stone pelting by the encroachers. Four LDA officials were reportedly injured. Police said cases against 25 people were registered. 


The 257 kanals of LDA land was encroached by occupants in Nasir Gunj village of Moza Rakhpura. This land was allotted for LDA Avenue-1 housing scheme for government employees. LDA gave the occupants three days to vacate the rest of the seven kanals.

The LDA official said that an agreement had earlier been signed between LDA and the Revenue Department about jointly determining the status of the land after it was recovered from the illegal occupants.

Maryam Kayani, the LDA additional director general (Head Quarters), who supervised the operation was abused and assaulted. Later, she was accused by two women, identified as Raheela and Zahida, of slapping them.

An LDA official, who was at the scene, said it was only after the women started pulling her dupatta, after which Kiyani hit out in self defence.

He said Kiyani has now given the illegal occupants three days to vacate the rest of the patch of land. Despite several notices earlier when the occupants did not move, Kiyani, accompanied by police contingent and other LDA officials, arrived at the site for the operation.

A statement later issued by the LDA said that the illegal occupants had attacked Kiyani, Special Judicial Magistrate Bushra Naseer and three women constables during the operation. It said Kiyani had slapped the women in self defence.

Raheela and Zahida denied attacking Kiyani. They said they had only requested her not to demolish their homes.

Commissioner Jawad Rafique Malik told The Express Tribune that he had ordered an inquiry into the matter. He said that District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal will hold the inquiry and will submit his report within 24 hours.

Enforcement Director Khawaja Javeed Aslam told The Express Tribune that the land belonged to LDA since 2003. He said that several notices had been served to these occupants to vacate the land, however, it was of no avail. He said that the operation was completely legitimate and there was noting illegal.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2012.

COMMENTS (13)

Moazam | 11 years ago | Reply

@Visitor: People there have not took even a single penny from LDA.... that's why they are protesting...

Visiter | 11 years ago | Reply

Dear fellows, Lda has acquired the land lawfully. No stay has been granted by any court. The people of nasir gunj has taken 4 lac per acre which was the dc rate in 2003 of undeveloped land. Price goes up with Lda development works. Now these land granted are trying to get some more money by creating gundaizm. They must be backed by some political gangsters also. There is a law by whom Govt can aquire any land even if the people are to be displaced. Just like in Santnagar lots of houses were demolished to make the road broader.

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