‘Land grabbing’: Widow appeals to government for security, justice

Claims of receiving life threats, accuses sub-divisional magistrate of delaying her plea.

SWAT: An elderly widow in Khwazakhela Tehsil has appealed to the government to take action against “influential persons” trying to confiscate her land.

Talking to media persons, Gull Sahar accused Abdul Qadar Shah, an influential of her village Landeykas, of demolishing her half-constructed house and forcefully occupying her land. She said that Shah’s actions are in violation of the sessions court orders, under which she was given ownership of the land following her husband’s death.

Sahar said she has been trying to raise voice against Shah and blamed the area’s sub-divisional magistrate of delaying her plea. She claimed that Shah made amendments to her property documents after taking them from her on the pretext of buying her property. She further claimed of receiving life threats from Shah and his men.

The widow has appealed to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti to ensure security and justice to her.

When contacted, the sub-divisional magistrate denied the widow’s claims. He said he personally visited the site and appointed a commission to probe the case. He said that after thorough investigation the commission confirmed that the land was registered on the name of the other party in the records of the revenue department.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2012.