Daily Times

KARACHI: A tug of war between Sindh government and Karachi Port Trust (KPT) over the ownership of KPT Officers Cooperative Housing Society (OCHS) land had deprived 600 families of their right to build houses on their plots.

The affectees urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan and Sindh High Court (SHC) to provide them justice.

Addressing a press conference at National Sailing Club, members of KPT OCHS Plot Owners Associations (POA) alleged that Sindh government had blocked the rightful owners of plots in KPT housing society to construct their houses, despite payment of lease, registration of sub-lease by Sindh government’s revenue department and payment of taxes. Those present at the press conference included: KPT OCHS POA President Munir Ahmed Qureshi, Secretary General Suleman Sulemanjee, KPT Officers Affectees Committee Coordinator Wajid Hussain, and others

They said that the KPT, through lease deed and extended registered lease deed, had allotted 130 acres of land at Mai Kolachi Road in the year 1990, 1991 and 1996, which was also recorded by Sindh Revenue Board (SRB), after receiving all dues and taxes.

Later on, the housing society divided the land into hundreds of smaller plots and leased them to KPT officers and members. They said that the SRB had registered all sub-leases in favour of officers and members and received due taxes against each registry.

They said, in 2001, Sindh Revenue Board started interfering in development work that forced the housing society to move to court. “It is important to note that during 1996 to 2005, sale, purchase and transfer of the plots continued. In 2005, SRB banned transfer and registration, which was lifted by the Sindh High Court on July 7, 2009”, they said.

Following orders of SHC, the housing society resumed registration and documentation of property, they said, adding that in 2013 on the appeal of Sindh government in SHC, development work, transfer, and registration was banned again, which was still in force and four years had passed but no final decision was in sight.

Munir Ahmed Qureshi, Suleman H Sulemanjee and Wajid Hussain informed that affectees had become party in the case so they could present their point of view and get justice in the process.

“We want to know what exactly the agenda of Sindh government is”, they questioned.

After 20 years of development in the surrounding areas, provincial government now deemed the land precious, they said. “Nobody is cognisant of the fact that among 600 families are orphans, windows and elderly persons who were allotted the plots in recognition of their services rendered to the organisation but still they are not allowed to construct their houses”, they lamented.

The case had been pending with the court for last 17 years and affectees still await outcome.

In the past, many attempts were made by Sindh government and KPT for an out of court settlement to no avail.

Supreme Court judges, on May 5, 2015, in case no 2191/2013 concerning KPT OCHS, had ordered for expeditious proceedings for an independent decision within six months of the order.

Published in Daily Times, October 15^th 2017.