Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: The matter of sale and purchase of land and mutation of inherited property has become a perpetual source of nuisance for citizens owing to unholy nexus of Patwari and influential land mafia and
Qabza groups.

Sources said the work for computerization of all the record of revenue department was started in May, 2013 under Punjab government policy and December, 2013 was set as deadline. But only 40 per cent record of revenue department Rawalpindi has been computerized so far.

Sources said that orders for computerization of record were issued but requisite qualified staff was not appointed. This has even messed up the work which has been completed so far as it is fraught with glaring errors and flaws.

Every person is forced to pay bribery amounting to Rs 5000 along with prescribed fee of Rs 50 in registry, mutation and fard cases to patwari due to mysterious silence of the concerned authorities and lack of check and balance system.

Revenue department has turned into self styled kingdom of Patwari who is unquestioned king of this regime as is reflected from his standard of living and palaces like residences. How ironical it is that monthly salary of a patwari ranges between Rs 14000 to Rs 18000 but his life style is princely, affluent and inconceivable for a common man.

It is said in the general complaints against the Patwar mafia that seller has to pay Rs 4000 to 5000 in addition to prescribed fee of Rs 50 for obtaining “bai fard” from patwari while selling out his 5 marla plot or home . If the case is complicated then the rate of “chai-pani” (bribery) soars to Rs 50000. At least Rs 5000 is received from the purchaser in the name of transfer of land following the completion of registry process.

According to rules and regulations of revenue department, “bai fard” cannot be issued in the absence of real owner of the property. But majority of patwaris issue “bai fard” at the behest of property dealers and land mafia by pocketing Rs 20000 to Rs 25000. It is no more considered a complex job by patwari for converting property of 5 marlas to 10 marlas by manipulating with the record.

On the other hand those who delay the process of recording of mutation of land are subjected to deceptive tactics to grab money from them by saying that as “you have not got the plot transferred immediately, therefore, its owner has sold out this plot to some other party”. This way the affected person is black mailed and a new deal is struck by grabbing Rs 40000 to 50000 from him.

It is also learnt that patwari grabs Rs 3000 instead of original fee of Rs 50 for issuance of record to applicants.

According to revenue department rules it is binding on patwari to show original record to owner of property but it becomes next to him impossible to see his land record and only influential seek access to the record by greasing the palm of patwari.

According to sources, land and property was divided into domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial categories in 2009 by the government but no rate has been fixed at government level. Therefore, separate rates have been fixed for every mauza and Khasra. The citizens are completely unaware of these rates. This way patwaris and Munshi charge exorbitant rates to the people.

The prescribed fee schedules are kept secret from the general public. It is mandatory for every patwari to display the prescribed schedule at conspicuous place but almost all the patwaris are not maintaining these schedules in their offices .People have become toys in the hands of patwar mafia.

As per rules no one including munshi or official is authorised to open the office of patwari, sit therein or touch the record in the absence of patwari but munshi of the patwari is all in all for maintaining record and striking deals with the citizens. They even take the record to the residences of influential and work out mutation papers as per will of the rich and influential persons at their homes.

In return for hefty pocket money these munshi issue such “fard” which are even non existent and this way they are committing robbery on the pocket of the citizens and ridiculing the popular slogan of NAB, “Say no to Corruption”.