In the fight against land mafia, govt schoolteachers are on their own

Some cases have been in the courts for over a decade.

RAWALPINDI:

While land grabbers enjoy political patronage and in most cases have the resources to get their way, they are yet to come up with ways to counter the steadfast resolve of the staff at various government schools they have encroached upon.

“We have been pursuing a lawsuit for the last 16 years, while the politically well-connected land mafia has transferred dozens of teachers for pursuing cases against them,” said Jamshed*,  a teacher at Government High School Khayaban-e-Sir Syed Sector III, while talking to The Express Tribune. “We’ll continue our struggle till we get them off the land which is meant for our students,” he added.

The land grabbers have deprived the school of eight kanals and constructed a mosque and houses, he stated. “They forged ownership documents in connivance with revenue officials.”  Each time the court decides the case in our favour, the land grabbers file a fresh appeal and prolong the litigation, he added.

The land grabbers, who are contractors by profession, dumped rubble at the school playground at night, said Jamshed. “They also demolished the school’s boundary wall and it has now become a shelter home for dogs and donkeys who spend the night here.”

The land mafia has also encroached upon Government Standard Muslim Primary School Khyaban-e-Sir Syed sector II, where residents have constructed houses and set up kiosks. Teachers, requesting their names be withheld, said the land mafia had encroached upon two kanals. Kiosks have been set up in the playground, leaving no space for students to play, the teachers added. Former headmaster Hafiz Fida Hussain was transferred to Gujar Khan for going to court against them.

There are 18 other schools in Rawalpindi pursuing lawsuits against land mafia. Recently, the Supreme Court has taken notice of issue and ordered the session judges of all districts across the country to collect data of schools pursuing lawsuit against land mafia.

“The mafia has carved out commercial plots out of the land they have grabbed and are selling them off,” said Muhammad Ibrar, a resident of Khayaban-e-Sir Syed.

District Coordination Officer Saqib Zafar stated, “The process of recovering the grabbed land will start after the court’s decision.” District and session judges will hear the cases every week to bring an end to the litigation.

When contacted, Executive District Officer (Education) Qazi Zahoorul Haq said the education department had vacated six schools from land grabbers and the rest would also be vacated. “I hope the cases will be decided within two months.”

Replying to a question, he added the land mafia was very powerful and money could buy everything including ownership documents. “The court should investigate how they got ownership documents.”

An official in the revenue department, requesting anonymity, said land registration is carried out manually and corruption is rampant. “If you have power and money you can get anything done.”

Most government schools have been built on common land and their boundaries were not often clearly demarcated due to which encroachments are a constant issue, he added.

According to documents available with The Express Tribune, Government Pehlvi School Faizabad, Government High School No 1, Government Denies High School, Government Islamia High School No 2, Government Islamia High School No 3, Government Christian School, Government Ziaul Uloom Raja Bazar, Government Shimla High School Raja Bazaar, Government Muslim School Gulshan Abad, Government Muslim High School No 1, Government Muslim High School No 2, Government Boys High School Khayaban-e-Sir Syed Sector-3, Government High School Khayaban-e-Sir Syed Sector IV, Government Jamia High School , Government Jamia Girls High School Dhok Kashmirian, Government Shimla High School Aria Mohalla, Government Madrassah Milla High School and Government Commerce College have been pursuing lawsuits against the land mafia for over a decade.

*Name changed to protect identity

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2013.