May 07, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1, 1429

KHAIRPUR, May 6: On the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, an inquiry has been launched into alleged occupation of plots donated in the Talpurs’ era for setting up of industries in the city.

DCO Mohammad Iqbal Memon, EDO (Revenue) Ahmed Ali Qureshi and other revenue officials surveyed the mill area and labour and officers colonies on Monday.

The office-bearers of the Mills Action Committee told at a meeting held at the DCO office that some 258 acres of land had been donated for construction of factories during the Talpur’s era by the former princely state of Khairpur. They said that after the closure of many factories in the area, land mafia had occupied these plots.

At the time of donation, it was made mandatory that the plots would only be used for construction of factories so that the local people could get jobs and if the factories were closed, the land would be returned to the government.

They said that after the closure of many factories influential land mafia occupied the land and sold it as residential plots.

Sub-registrar Fayaz Ahmed Shah told the meeting that he had been pressurised by land mafia and his life was in danger.

DCO Mohammad Iqbal Memon assured the people there that the Sindh chief minister had taken up the issue and the board of revenue had also started a high level inquiry into the matter and the district administration had been jointly working in this inquiry.

He added that appropriate action would be taken after findings of this inquiry become available.

Khairpur EDO (revenue) Ahmed Ali Qureshi said that the tapedar (revenue official) who was allegedly maintaining fake records of the plots had been suspended and a chargesheet against him had been issued.