KARACHI, June 19: The Sindh Assembly was informed on Tuesday that influential encroachers had occupied 700 acres in Shah Garh Forest in Jamshoro district since March 11, 2004.
The provincial legislature was also told that complaints lodged by forest officers with police against the encroachment of forestland did not result in the eviction of the squatters.
These admissions were made by Zakat, Ushr and Auqaf Minister Manzoor Panhwar on behalf of the chief minister while answering a question raised by PPP legislator Sharfunnisa Leghari on the role of the food, forest and wildlife department.
According to the written reply made by the chief minister, the encroachers are Abdul Rahim Rind, Faiz Mohammad, Bashir Katohar, Haji Iqbal, Habibullah, Fayaz Ahmad, Dadan Sahito, Mushtaq Sahito and others.
On Aug 7, 2004 another 50 acres in Kalu Bhori Forest was encroached upon by Altaf Rodhnani, Ali Bukhsh Shahani, Jumoo Shahani, Ghulam Nabi Shahani, Mohammad Hasan Rodhnani, Muhammad Chandio, Haji Lund, Sohbat Shahani, Ghulam Haider Chandio and Ghulam Mohammad Shahani.
In the remarks column, it was stated that “on continuous efforts made by the forest officers, police had lodged an FIR (56/2006) against the encroachers”. They were released on bail later by the court. However, the case is still under process.
When a woman legislator, raising what is described in technical parlance as a supplementary question, alleged that a federal minister, his brother and others were behind the encroachment of land, MPA Ehsan Jatoi leapt to his feet and passed remarks which caused the opposition members to see red.
Although Iqbal Quadri, who was presiding over the session as a member of the panel of chairmen, had the remarks expunged, Ehsan Jatoi continued to speak.
Many members including Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro, Rafique Engineer and Shazia Marri protested over Mr Jatoi’s attitude. From the treasury side, Shoaib Bokhari, Irfanullah Marwat and others sought to counter the opposition onslaught. The ensuing uproar led to the adjournment of the session from 12.15pm to 2pm.
The opposition called on the speaker of the Sindh Assembly and briefed him about the incident. When the house reassembled at 2pm, the speaker expunged remarks considered objectionable by both sides.
