Action to be taken: Rangers to help recover encroached lands

Of the total 59,800 acres of encroached land, 2,864 acres has been recovered so far.

KARACHI: The provincial government has decided to seek the Rangers’ help in recovering encroached lands across Sindh.

The provincial government authorities also sought details from different departments regarding encroached lands within their respective jurisdictions. According to a report submitted by the Sindh Board of Revenue in the Supreme Court of Pakistan on June 24, 59,800 acres of Sindh government land has allegedly been occupied by the Defence Housing Authority, Malir Development Authority and Suparco.

It stated that of the total encroached land, 52,130 acres was under institutional encroachment while 2,864 acres have been retrieved so far. The apex court asked the Sindh government to retrieve the encroached land within six months.

According to sources, the Sindh advocate general had written a letter to the Sindh chief secretary, Karachi commissioner, seven deputy commissioners of Karachi and Hyderabad, and secretary forest for details on the encroached lands.

The letter had asked the officials to submit details of government officials and other people involved in the occupation of state land. The names of the people or groups involved in occupying the land will be submitted to the apex court, which had directed the provincial government to eliminate encroachments from government lands within six months.

The provincial government has also decided to take action against the encroachers occupying parks, welfare plots and other such places. Action will also be taken against political groups involved in occupying government land and register cases against them with the help of the anti-encroachment cell.

According to sources, the police will also be part of the action-taking force against the encroachers but the provincial authorities have decided to rely on Rangers as several police personnel were found involved in assisting the encroachers in the past.

A Rangers official said that they were ready to assist the provincial authorities in removing the encroachments from government lands in the province however, they had not yet received any such orders so far.  

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2014.