Sindh Courier

Karachi

Vast tracts of land are under the illegal possession of land grabbers in the metropolis, as according to official figures, 5000 acres are occupied in the limits of Malir Development Authority alone and the administration has succeeded to get vacated 150 acres only during the recently launched drive.

The figures were shared in a review meeting on drive against encroachments, illegal buildings and action against water thieves held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sindh Dr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput at Sindh Secretariat on Friday.

During the meeting, officials of Malir Development Authority (MDA), Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) gave briefing on the proceedings.

The MDA officials said that some 5000 acres of land is under the illegal occupation of land grabbers while 150 acres of land belonging to MDA has been retrieved from illegal occupants.

DG Sindh Building Control Authority said that 12 illegal buildings have been demolished in Karachi. He further informed the meeting that SBCA has short listed 6 firms for demolition and these contractors will be sent with administration for demolition.

Chief Secretary directed the DG to submit detailed report of illegal buildings to the Deputy Commissioners.

Provincial Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, who also attended the meeting, said that heavy fines would be imposed against the mafia for constructing illegal buildings. He informed that Javed Sheikhani has been appointed as the coordinator to address issues of builders’ association ABAD.

The officials of Water Board informed that illegal connections are being removed from the system of Water Board. They further informed that 6 water theft connections had been removed from 48 inch pipeline near Saadi Town while 6 illegal water hydrants were also been demolished.

Chief Secretary Dr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput said that 10 MGD of water have been saved in the city so far by taking action against water thieves. He directed Police, Rangers and district administration to take full part in action against encroachments and water theft and the anti-encroachment force will be provided with equipment to deal with the riots.

LG Minister Nasir Shah said that the budget of anti-encroachment force would also be increased and more staff and powers would be given to anti-encroachment force.

The meeting was also attended by Senior Member Board of Revenue Baqaullah Unar, Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Iqbal Memon, Secretary Local Government Najam Ahmad Shah and others.

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Sindh Courier Report

Karachi

Around 400,000 unregistered Afghan nationals are living in Karachi while only 71,429 Afghanis are registration card-holders. The illegal immigrants of other nationalities are in addition to them.

This information was shared in 27^th meeting of Apex Committee, chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday.

No data of unregistered Afghan refugees and other aliens living in rest of the districts of Sindh.

It was pointed out that the cross-border relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan has a long and varied history. There was no proper mechanism for registration of Afghan refugees, therefore it was decided to request the federal government to strengthen the border management system so that illegal immigrants could not manage to penetrate.

The chief minister directed intelligence agencies to prepare a separate party with a solo assignment of keeping an eye on illegal immigrants living in different localities of the city which have already been identified.

While discussing the killing of Chinese nationals in Karachi University and bomb blast in Saddar area, chief minister, in consultation with the all the agencies/participants, including intelligence agencies, decided to further strengthen intelligence network and working out mechanism so that timely operation could be conducted against the terrorists.

The meeting was given a detailed briefing on the social media being used/operated by the terrorist outfits and other criminal groups. The names and identification of terrorist outfits and their social media accounts were identified with number of their followers, traffic on their accounts.

The premier agencies were assigned the task to comb out those who were spreading venomous material on social media, brainwashing the incent youngsters against the state and state institutions and instigating them to kill innocent people as was done in Karachi university. “We will have to control the anti-statement and anti-social elements by using the latest technology, gadgets and tools, including social media.

The meeting was informed that through an extensive exercise conducted in the criminal record of the criminals operating in the city 787 persons have been identified as repeat-offenders, 540 drug dealers and 244 land grabbers. The lists of the identified criminals prepared by the agencies were shared with each other [police, Rangers and Corps headquarter] so that action as decided by the chief minister could be accelerated.

In the list names of the criminals, their addresses, CNICs, mobile numbers, photos or exposure, age have been mentioned. It was pointed out that most of the street criminals, drug dealers or land grabbers might be used by the terrorists in their anti-state activities.

The meeting was told that in 2013 the street crime cases were recorded at 1,506 cases per month. The cases had increased to 3,939 per month in 2002.

The task of installation of trackers in motorcycles was assigned to new Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon.

The meeting was informed that several incidents of illegal occupation of government/ private land by land grabbers have surfaced. These land grabbers have strong linkages with criminal elements.

The chief minister said that the provincial government had created an anti-encroachment force at the Board of Revenue in 2011.The anti-encroachment police during 2022 registered 80 FIRs and arrested 150 land grabbers. The chief minister directed the chief secretary to decentralize anti-encroachment police at district level and keep their performance monitoring.

It was pointed out that the use of synthetic drugs by students of schools and colleges is on the rise in Karachi. To curb the growing trend of drug abuse in educational institutions, the chief minister directed the police and district administration to engage university administration/ academia and initiate crackdown against drug peddlers. “Students should be thoroughly monitored by the School/ College/ University administration on campuses to check if they are taking drugs,” Shah said.

The meeting was told that 1714 narcotics peddlers in education institutions were enlisted, of them 396 were in jails, 440 on bail and 878 at large. The meeting directed the agencies, including police and rangers to arrest the absconders.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Nasir Shah, Sharjeel Memon, advisor law Murtaza Wahab, Corps Commander Karachi Lt Gen M. Saeed Chief Secretary Sohail Rjput, Advocate General Sindh, IG Sindh Mushtaq Maher, DG Rangers Major Gen Iftikhar Chaudhry, Prosecutor General, Additional IGs Karachi, CDT, Special Branch, Home secretary Saeed Mangnijo, provincial headsof Intelligence agencies and other concerned officers.

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Seven villagers including 3 women injured; victims stage sit-in at national highway; police register FIR against attackers

By Kamran Khamiso Khowaja

Thatta: Some influential land grabbers along with their henchmen, armed with deadly weapons, attacked a village near Gharo town in Thatta district and resorted to aerial firing to create trepidation among the villagers on Monday.

They stormed the houses of the poor peasants of the Jokhiya community and subjected them to severe beating with sticks and clubs leaving seven villagers including three women injured critically.

The affected villagers staged a sit-in on National Highway and chanted slogans against the land mafia. They told local reporters that the armed men forced them to vacate their houses in order to occupy their ancestral land. The villagers however vowed they would resist the occupation of that land at the cost of their lives.

Victims of attack – Feroz Jokhiyo, Abdullah Jokhiyo, Mahi Piran, and Najman said that they were pitilessly thrashed by the goons of Shaukat Niazi, Sohail Sharafat, and Imtiaz Shah. Ms. Najman and Mahi Pira added that they were dragged by their hairs.

A Police party led by area SHO arrived there and held talks with the villagers, and assured them of action against the land grabbers and their henchmen. Later, on Monday night, a FIR of the incident was lodged under section 147-(Punishment for rioting) 148- (rioting and being armed with deadly weapons) 149- ( Common object of offense) 324- (Attempt to Commit Qatl-e-Amd) 337-( A and I) 447-(Punishment of criminal trespass) 452-(House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) 506/2-(Punishment for criminal intimidation) and 504-(Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of Pakistan Penal Code 1860 against Shaukat Niazi, Sohail Sharafat, Imtiaz Shah and their goons.

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