GUJRAT, Feb 28: People from different walks of life observed a strike in Karrianwala on Tuesday against the construction of some shops at a government park by land mafia. The situation in Karrianwala remained tense after the Monday clash as a huge police contingent remained deployed there the whole day.

District nazim Shafaat Husain and Gujrat tehsil nazim Saadat Nawaz Ajnala have developed differences over the Karrianwala issue. Mr Ajnala had termed three officials, including the DCO, as responsible for the clash that created a law and order situation while Shafaat had protected the three officials.

Reports said one Mehdi Khan had started constructing some shops on the land of a park in Karrianwala. Meanwhile, some residents moved a civil court which granted a stay directing Mehdi Khan to suspend the construction immediately.

Former MNA Nawabzada Ghazanfar Gul and some other opposition leaders have alleged that nazim Saadat Nawaz Ajnala and his brother Shujaat Nawaz Ajnala were behind the landgrabbing. The district nazim had formed a committee to conduct an inquiry into the landgrabbing incident. The grabbers, despite a court direction, did not suspend the construction work. The committee members along with tehsildar Waqar Khan and DDO (revenue) Rana Manzoor had visited Karrianwala on Monday to conduct an inquiry. At that time, work was under way.

Meanwhile, announcements were made in loudspeakers of area mosques by someone else requesting the people to gather at the site and stop the illegal construction by force. A large number of people gathered at the place while Ajnala UC nazim Shujaat Ajnala and his armed men also came there in favour of Mehdi Khan. Following an exchange of harsh words, the residents pelted stones at the occupants and ransacked the shops. The clash occurred for more than an hour with minor injuries received by people from both sides. A heavy police contingent reached there and controlled the situation.

The Karrianwala police nabbed some men of the Ajnala group and some of the protesters.

The situation in Karrianwala is still tense. Some of the traders also observed a shutterdown strike, burnt tyres and chanted slogans against the grabbers. The PTCL numbers in the area are silent due to unknown reasons.

Tehsil nazim Ajnala had termed the DCO, tehsildar Waqar Khan and DDO (R) as responsible for violence.

At a press conference, Ajnala had also termed them as corrupt. He said the land was owned by one Jagat who had sold it to their close friend Mehdi Khan. He said the opposition had been busy in a false propaganda only to defame him. He alleged the DCO was the mastermind behind the violence as he had close relations with Ghazanfar Gul. He demanded immediate transfer of the three officials.

In a handout, the district nazim said the DCO did not have any link in the incident. He said the other two officials had visited the site in compliance with his orders. If the tehsil nazim had any complaint, he should contact the committee or the court. And if the tehsil nazim is not satisfied with him (Shafaat), he should place the matter before the tehsil council.

It is pertinent to note that the chief minister is likely to visit Karrianwala on March 12 at the invitation of the tehsil nazim.