THIS refers to the news item (Jan 7) regarding the statement of the law minister in the Punjab Assembly that land measuring 395,576 acres is under the control of army for various agricultural and commercial activities. The record regarding the land and earnings is with the military while the provincial government has no knowledge whatsoever.

Furthermore, he also told the assembly that the land within a radius of five miles along the border (that runs into hundreds of kilometres) is under the control of the army, and the government was not the allotting authority of such land. This would mean that the army has the authority of allotments and contracts of land in the area.

The minister has, however, not informed the assembly of vast military farms in Okara and Khanewal districts where bloody clashes have also taken place between farmers and occupying military units during Musharraf's period. A couple of years back, it was reported in the newspapers that the irrigation department had sent a report to the Punjab chief minister about the use of water from canals by the army and Rangers for irrigation of lands under their occupation.

This is a grave violation of Articles 173 and 274 whereby the ownership of such lands lies with the federal and the provincial government, as the case may be. Contracts for such properties can only be made in the name of the president, or as the case may be, in the name of the governor of the province.

The control of the army over these lands and any function towards allotment or contracts would be considered unlawful. All income accruing from these properties should have been deposited in the public exchequer and duly audited.

AKBER ALI KAZI Karachi