KARACHI, April 23: The Sindh High Court directed the chief secretary on Friday to settle the claim of the provincial forest department over 1,850 acres of farmland in taluka Jati, district Thatta, and demarcate the area earmarked for afforestation.

The order was passed by Justice Azizullah M. Memon in a revision petition moved by the department through Additional Advocate-General M. Ahmed Pirzada. The petition challenges concurrent findings by a senior civil judge and the district judge of Thatta that the land belonged to 17 plaintiff "haris" who were allotted land by the board of revenue.

AAG Pirzada submitted that the land was part of a forest development scheme and was allotted to the department in 1902. The plaintiffs obtained lease documents in connivance with revenue officials.

Justice Memon asked the parties to maintain status quo and refrain from creating third party interest. The chief secretary should determine and demarcate the area that belonged to the forest department.