June 6, 2003	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1424

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RAWALPINDI, June 5: Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal has refused to help bail out the army of the deadlock confronting it in Okara Military Farms, said reliable sources here on Sunday.

It was learnt that the army, after launching a political initiative to resolve the dispute, had contacted the defence minister, who hails from the same area, to use his influence in helping the army come out of the woods.

However, Mr Iqbal citing his political expediencies expressed his inability in helping the army on the Okara farms issue.

The minister was not available for comments, despite repeated contacts.

Meanwhile, according to the sources said, the army is not at ease with the Punjab government. Its top brass is of the opinion that the administration has not done enough to help it.

“The army has not been seeking any special favour from the administration, rather it has only been demanding implementation of the Lahore High Court orders that had declared the occupancy of the tenants illegal,” one of the sources said.

The army has now started even suspecting the intentions of the Punjab government. There is a strong opinion in the army circles that the Punjab government, which is the original owner of the farms under question, wants to regain the farms, which consists of prime land and has been adequately developed by the army.

The sources quoted resolution D-3428-A of Dec 10, 1925, which was adapted by Pakistan vide The Pakistan (Adaptation of Existing Pakistan Laws) Order 1947, that states: “The government of Pakistan has the right to remain in undisturbed possession of any land in its occupation in any province on April 1, 1921, subject to the conditions then ruling, so long as such occupation is necessary for the effective discharge of the duty.”

Irrespective of any other development, they said, the above resolution alone validates the possession of land by the army as long as the necessity exists.

Senior army officials have reportedly submitted a case with the federal government stressing that the army is in need of the land for meeting its fodder and food needs and for expansion of Okara Cantonment.

The sources said there had been certain reports pointing at the alleged involvement of the Punjab government in patronising a media campaign against the army’s position on Okara farms.

The sources said district Nazim Mr Sajjad Haider had also refused to assist the army.