Daily Times

KARACHI: Around 49 acres of Surjani Town’s Scheme-41 land worth Rs 25 billion has been verified by Muktarkar Manghopir on tempered ‘record of right’ after the submission of false documents from a private party (Anwer Azeem) claiming transfer of land in his name in 2008.

Similarly, Abdul Sattar Hakro, assistant commissioner revenue Karachi division, Abdul Wajid Shiekh, additional deputy commissioner west and deputy commissioner west have also seconded the verification.

Revelation of this land scam came into light when documents had been submitted for further verification from Shahzad Ahmad, former Project Director Surjani Scheme, who sent the transfer documents of land to deputy commissioner west in October 2016.

After a gap of around seven months, Sattar Hakro sent a letter on this matter to Project Director Surjani. Later Hakro verified and confirmed the sanctity of the transfer documents.

Similarly in the line of official routine, these documents were sent to Director Land Acquisition Karachi Development Authority (KDA) for confirmation.

On this juncture, KDA returned back the transfer documents to deputy commissioner west with the remarks and detailed facts that transfer papers in question have no worth and has been prepared on false grounds.

It is worth mentioning here that under survey number 57 and 58 Deh Surjani along with other survey numbers, land measuring 340.13 acres came under Surjani Scheme-41. Pinjra Pur Trust and Evacuee Trust Property Board was the custodian of this piece of land.

Later, Evacuee Trust Property Board handed over 240 acres of land to KDA under handing, taking over report of October 29, 1985 in compliance of decision taken in meeting held on minority affairs, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.

According to copy of the minutes of the meeting and handing over taking over report, land in question basically belonged to the Trust before Indo-Pak partition.

After partition Pinjra Pur Trust Land vested to Evacuee Trust Property Board, Government of Pakistan. The title was transferred from Pinjra Pur Trust in year 2008.

Zafar Hussain Faridi, a political figure also claimed transferee of this land but on KDA’s interference and on the orders of Supreme of Pakistan in 2009-10, he had been sent behind the bars on false transfer land documents.

Still echelon in KDA, Sindh Building Control Authority, Commissioner and deputy commissioner office besides members of some political parties and officials are trying to prove the transfer papers of Anwer Azeem genuine.

Jameel Baluch Additional Director KDA , land accusation has demanded a judicial inquiry of the matter in a bid to save billions of rupees land from the grabbers and corrupt officials.

Published in Daily Times, July 13^th , 2017.