RAHIM YAR KHAN, July 20: Hundreds of people protested against the Minister of State for Tourism, Culture, Sports and Minority Affairs, Rais Munir Ahmed, for what they said using his influence to occupy their lands. The minister, however, rejected their charge.

Protesters reached the DPO office here by buses on Tuesday. They shouted slogans against Rais Munir Ahmed and presented their demands to district police officer Tariq Hanif.

They dispersed peacefully when the DPO assured them that justice would be done to them. The protesters - led by Hafiz Bhoral, Malik Mihrab Khan, Rahim Malik, Nazir Ahmed and Arif - told newsmen that they had purchased about 450 acres in the villages of Wazirabad, Shabbirabad, Ahmedabad, and Bhong (Sadiqabad tehsil) from Rais Wazir Ahmed and Rais Shabir Ahmed 30 years ago.

Full amount of the land was paid in instalments and about five years ago the land was registered against the names of its new owners. Later on, when Rais Shabir's son Rais Munir Ahmed got ministry, he used his contacts and tried to take back this land.

The minister also filed a case with a civil court but his plea was rejected. The minister, they added, used his influence and had them arrested. They were kept illegally in detention for two years.

DPO Tariq Hanif assured the protesters that they would be extended justice and instructed the Sadiqabad ASP to cancel fake cases against them. After this assurance the protesters disbursed silently.

A spokesman of the minister however rejected the demonstration as politically motivated. "It was masterminded by Rais Wazir Ahmad, an uncle of the minister," he said. He also rejected the villagers' claim, saying the land transfers were fake and made in absence of the minister and his father. To a question, he said the issue was still in the civil court.