DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Nov 7: The NWFP agriculture department took possession on Friday of 3,759 kanals of farmlands which had been leased out to some alleged frontmen of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and former chief minister Akram Khan Durrani by the government of Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf in 2006.

The court of Civil Judge Shaukat Ahmad had on Oct 28 ordered termination of the lease and return of the land to the department. Revenue officials handed over the land in Rakh Zandani and Miran areas to the agriculture department.

According to sources, 6,072 kanals of agricultural land had been leased out to retired military personnel and aides and relatives of the JUI-F chief and Mr Durrani in Rakh Zandani farm, Rata Kulachi farm and Miran areas of Dera Ismail Khan district.

The agriculture department had challenged the lease agreement and allotment of the land to civilians in a local court in 2007.

Sources said the land was meant for retired military personnel, but some influential political figures and officials were also given plots in Rakh Zandani at Rs200 per kanal for 10 years. The fertile land is used for cash crops.

The sources said that the revenue department had terminated the lease in July 2007 but the land was not vacated.Mr Durrani, who is the leader of opposition in the provincial assembly, has denied having anything to do with the lease.

According to official documents, Samiullah, son of Fazl Dad, was given 245 kanals; Haq Nawaz, son of Abdul Jabar, 200 kanals; Haji Mian Khan, son of Sultan, of Loralai, 1,047 kanals; Haji Shahzadai, son of Sultan Mohammad, 729 kanals; Adnan, son of Shahzad Khan, of Bannu, 502 kanals; and Sharifullah, son of Rehmatullah, 15 kanals, in Rakh Zandani.

In Rata Kulachi, Mohammad Altaf, son of Abdullah, got 605 kanals; and Haji Abidullah, son of Rehmatullah, 400 kanals. Rehmatullah is said to be secretary to Maulana Lutfur Rehman, brother of Maulana Fazl.

The previous government had also allotted land in Rakh Grass to influential political figures. The provincial government had handed over 17,578 acres belonging to the forest department to the army in 2002 for distribution among the heir of veterans of the Kargil conflict and retired personnel.